VFL 2007
The VFL is the place to see the future, as well as the past. Former fan favourites like Spriggs and J Cloke are now with VFL teams, but it is the AFL stars of tomorrow who are the real news. Collingwood fans will want to see Reid and Brown, the Saints will want to play Armitage soon but for now he is a Scorpion and second overall pick Scott Gumbleton will be playing at Windy Hill.
Some of the draft picks in VFL action:
Sandringham v Geelong
Ricky "Hannibal Smith" Petterd would be a useful players for the Demons at the moment, but until then he will be a Zebra. The Cats of the AFL will have Selwood and Hawkins and their VFL team will play Djerrkura and another speedster Simon "Not Hulk" Hogan. This is the televised game on ABC.
Bendigo v Tasmania
The Bombers have height in their forward line in the AFL and their VFL team is similar with Scott Gumbleton combing with Johns and Neagle. Big Kangaroo prospect Todd Goldstein will play in the ruck for Tasmania.
Williamstown v Werribee
Nathan Brown in the back line and Ben Reid up forward will be the players to watch for Collingwood fans. Reid might have a short stay in the VFL as Malthouse has talked about playing him while Brown might need an injury to Wakelin or Prestigiacomo before he gets his chance. Some of the Bulldogs' quick prospects like Hill and Lynch will be playing for Werribee, A Everitt is another draft pick who will be playing there this season.
Casey v North Ballarat
David Armitage should have a lot of the ball for the Scorpions. Urquhart will be a chance to play games for the Kangaroos this season, he will start the season with North Ballarat.
Port Melbourne v Frankston
The two teams who are not connected with a team in the AFL will play each other in round 1. No AFL draft picks to watch in this game, there are plenty of former AFL players to see though.
Coburg v Northern
J Riewoldt moves from Tasmania to Coburg in the VFL, he could be moving into the Richmond forward line next to Richardson in a few weeks. The future of the Carlton ruck group, tall Hampson, will be on display.
Box Hill, who are loaded with Hawthorn draft picks, don't play in round 1. When Thorp is healthy he will be playing for them and big Renouf is another player to watch.
New players to watch:
Bendigo: Jason Cloke and Hayden Skipworth can get back into the AFL with a big season for the VFL Bombers.
Box Hill: Nick Smith can develop his game with the Hawks.
Casey: Troy Makepeace is a better player than many others in the AFL.
Coburg: Fortunato Caruso will probably average 30 possessions a game.
Frankston: It worked last time they went to the West Coast Eagles for a player, now they have signed Adkins.
Geelong: Phil Read leaves Sandringham to join the Cats.
North Ballarat: Tom Roach, like David Rodan, was unwanted by the Richmond Tigers and former Essendon ruckman Tristan Cartledge also joins the team.
Northern: Former Collingwood player Adam Iacobucci joins the Bullants.
Port Melbourne: Luke Livingstone won't be overwhelmed like he was in the AFL, David Spriggs should be one of the VFL's best new players and a good chance at the Liston medal.
Sandringham: Tomi Johnston will provide some run for the defending champions.
Tasmania: They were in the headlines last year for the wrong reasons, now they have former Cat Koulouriotis to provide some help on the field.
Werribee: The Sheringham brothers will add some run, former Cat and Swan Paul Chambers gives them another big body.
Williamstown: Former Tiger Limbach could fill a forward spot for the Collingwood-affiliated Seagulls.
Some of the stars of the VFL from season 2006.
VFL Team of the Year 2006:
FB David Biagi, Scott Pollard, Andy Biddlecombe
HB Daniel Harford, Justin Crow, Jordan Doering
C David Gallagher, James Byrne, Kyle Matthews
HF Tim Hazell, Digby Morrell,Brett Geappen
FF James Podsiadly, Aaron Edwards, Salim Hassan
Foll Warren Carlyle, Brett Johnson, James Allan
bench Jacob King, Neil Winterton, Steven Greene, Matthew Sharkey
2006 VFL Coach of the Year: Barry Mitchell
Liston Medal 2006
A Edwards Frankston 18 Votes
B Johnson Williamstown 17
D Harford Northern Bullants 14
J Byrne Geelong 13
J Allan Werribee 11
C Fortnam Frankston 10
D Teague Northern Bullants 10
J King Coburg Tigers 9
D Morrell Northern Bullants 9
E Poyas Sandringham 9
J Rawlings Tasmania 9
B McGlynn Box Hill Hawks 8
M Marigliani Frankston 8
S Byrnes Geelong 8
S Moloney North Ballarat 8
L Blackwell Northern Bullants 8
N Sautner Sandringham 8
N Smith Sandringham 8
P Read Sandringham 8
J Podsiadly Werribee 8
T Robertson Werribee 8
Some of the draft picks in VFL action:
Sandringham v Geelong
Ricky "Hannibal Smith" Petterd would be a useful players for the Demons at the moment, but until then he will be a Zebra. The Cats of the AFL will have Selwood and Hawkins and their VFL team will play Djerrkura and another speedster Simon "Not Hulk" Hogan. This is the televised game on ABC.
Bendigo v Tasmania
The Bombers have height in their forward line in the AFL and their VFL team is similar with Scott Gumbleton combing with Johns and Neagle. Big Kangaroo prospect Todd Goldstein will play in the ruck for Tasmania.
Williamstown v Werribee
Nathan Brown in the back line and Ben Reid up forward will be the players to watch for Collingwood fans. Reid might have a short stay in the VFL as Malthouse has talked about playing him while Brown might need an injury to Wakelin or Prestigiacomo before he gets his chance. Some of the Bulldogs' quick prospects like Hill and Lynch will be playing for Werribee, A Everitt is another draft pick who will be playing there this season.
Casey v North Ballarat
David Armitage should have a lot of the ball for the Scorpions. Urquhart will be a chance to play games for the Kangaroos this season, he will start the season with North Ballarat.
Port Melbourne v Frankston
The two teams who are not connected with a team in the AFL will play each other in round 1. No AFL draft picks to watch in this game, there are plenty of former AFL players to see though.
Coburg v Northern
J Riewoldt moves from Tasmania to Coburg in the VFL, he could be moving into the Richmond forward line next to Richardson in a few weeks. The future of the Carlton ruck group, tall Hampson, will be on display.
Box Hill, who are loaded with Hawthorn draft picks, don't play in round 1. When Thorp is healthy he will be playing for them and big Renouf is another player to watch.
New players to watch:
Bendigo: Jason Cloke and Hayden Skipworth can get back into the AFL with a big season for the VFL Bombers.
Box Hill: Nick Smith can develop his game with the Hawks.
Casey: Troy Makepeace is a better player than many others in the AFL.
Coburg: Fortunato Caruso will probably average 30 possessions a game.
Frankston: It worked last time they went to the West Coast Eagles for a player, now they have signed Adkins.
Geelong: Phil Read leaves Sandringham to join the Cats.
North Ballarat: Tom Roach, like David Rodan, was unwanted by the Richmond Tigers and former Essendon ruckman Tristan Cartledge also joins the team.
Northern: Former Collingwood player Adam Iacobucci joins the Bullants.
Port Melbourne: Luke Livingstone won't be overwhelmed like he was in the AFL, David Spriggs should be one of the VFL's best new players and a good chance at the Liston medal.
Sandringham: Tomi Johnston will provide some run for the defending champions.
Tasmania: They were in the headlines last year for the wrong reasons, now they have former Cat Koulouriotis to provide some help on the field.
Werribee: The Sheringham brothers will add some run, former Cat and Swan Paul Chambers gives them another big body.
Williamstown: Former Tiger Limbach could fill a forward spot for the Collingwood-affiliated Seagulls.
Some of the stars of the VFL from season 2006.
VFL Team of the Year 2006:
FB David Biagi, Scott Pollard, Andy Biddlecombe
HB Daniel Harford, Justin Crow, Jordan Doering
C David Gallagher, James Byrne, Kyle Matthews
HF Tim Hazell, Digby Morrell,Brett Geappen
FF James Podsiadly, Aaron Edwards, Salim Hassan
Foll Warren Carlyle, Brett Johnson, James Allan
bench Jacob King, Neil Winterton, Steven Greene, Matthew Sharkey
2006 VFL Coach of the Year: Barry Mitchell
Liston Medal 2006
A Edwards Frankston 18 Votes
B Johnson Williamstown 17
D Harford Northern Bullants 14
J Byrne Geelong 13
J Allan Werribee 11
C Fortnam Frankston 10
D Teague Northern Bullants 10
J King Coburg Tigers 9
D Morrell Northern Bullants 9
E Poyas Sandringham 9
J Rawlings Tasmania 9
B McGlynn Box Hill Hawks 8
M Marigliani Frankston 8
S Byrnes Geelong 8
S Moloney North Ballarat 8
L Blackwell Northern Bullants 8
N Sautner Sandringham 8
N Smith Sandringham 8
P Read Sandringham 8
J Podsiadly Werribee 8
T Robertson Werribee 8
