WHATS NEXT?

With victories over the SANFL and the WAFL in its last two interstate matches the VFL has clearly established itself as the best domestic competition in Australia. In fact, since thrashing the Australian Amateurs by 126 points to win the then national championship in Tasmania in 1989 the VFA/VFL has won seven of its eleven representative matches. The VFA/VFL has come along way since the selection of some shoddy, partisan teams resulted in embarrassing losses to the Victorian Amateurs in 1982/83 and a narrow victory at Preston in 1985. For those of us who happened to be playing at that time the performance of VFA sides was sometimes impossible to fathom. And the losses against the Amateurs, given the talent in the VFA at that time and its obvious superiority, truly stuck in the craw.

Although the WAFL side went close to pinching the match last Saturday the VFL side was clearly better. And the beauty of the performance was that established VFL players such as Dean Talbot, David Mitchell and Chris Obst along with the exciting Steve Lawrence and Brent Tuckey, and captain Brad Lloyd in the tight last quarter, was the reason the VFL won the match. These matches are worth more than the brief moment of euphoria that follows. They should be used to reinforce the view that the VFL is not there to be pushed around by the AFL or derided as a reserves competition. Having put the foot down on the number of AFL players in VFL finals teams the VFL has to move to the next step in the process of self determination and autonomy.

WHAT THE LITTLE BIRDIE HEARD

It appears that over a few beers some presidents were privately expressing the view that not all VFL/AFL alignments suit the competition. You don't have to be a genius to realise that many alignments are not geographically appropriate. Why isn't Sandringham aligned to St Kilda, Coburg with Essendon, and Port with Melbourne or Richmond, one president asked? However, as another president noted, if a couple of AFL clubs were shunted north to Canberra, Sydney or Queensland, what would happen to the VFL club? That WAFL presidents meet once a month privately was met with interest by the VFL presidents. Although VFL presidents have been known to meet privately at the Port's Rex Hotel they do not have VFL endorsed private meetings. Peter Saultry is one president who is keen to see presidents meet regularly away from the VFL to discuss issues that affect clubs. 'I support alignments and the AFL, but that doesn't mean we can't have input into the alignments. In WA there's a set of rules that govern all the alignments. That's something we need to look at. Sometimes it's easier to discuss these issues away from the VFL,' he says. Stay stuned!

IN DAYS OF OLD

It's been a long time since Port and Sandringham eyed each other off as serious premiership alternatives. In the 70s and 80s there was nothing better than a Port v Sandringham match at the Beach Road or at Port. Saturday's ABC televised match evokes memories of those days. Not only are the old rivals at the top of the ladder, but each has stars players who excite a crowd and exude passion. Leading goal-kicker, Nick Sautner's relationship with the VFL hierarchy has always been problematic. After being left out of the VFL side for last week's interstate match Sautner will be keen to teach victorious VFL coach Gerard Fitzgerald a lesson.

On a good day Sautner can play truly inspiring football and kick big tallies. Back at Sandringham after a departure that rivalled a spat in the soapie Neighbours and saw him play at Frankston and the Bullants, Sautner is back in the goals at Zebra land. Fortunately those supporters who vented their spleen when he fled seem to have forgiven him. Just who'll pick him up will depend on who's available at the Kangaroos. No matter who it is he can expect to find a fired up full forward.

Although they've been too many Kangaroos in the Port line-up for my liking the Borough has some of the best VFL players. Steve Lawrence is in career best form. David Schwarze has a new lease of life and David Pitt, when he's on the paddock, is exhilarating. Captain Brett Rose has had to overcome injury, but he remains one of the most skilful players in the VFL. In the days when Rex Hunt and Fred Cook were patrolling the goal squares at Port and Sandy a crowd of 6,000 was common for these games. With their aligned AFL sides the Kangaroos and the Demons in great form and no AFL football on Saturday afternoon this match must surely draw a large crowd. So too should the other five VFL games.

SATURDAY

PORT MELBOURNE v Sandringham (Sat ABC TV)
North Ballarat v COBURG TIGERS

SUNDAY

Box Hill v GEELONG
SPRINGVALE v Williamstown
NORTHERN BULLANTS v Bendigo Bombers
FRANKSTON v Werribee