Latest VFL news
Jones just enjoying the outings
![Not looking at the long-term: Clint Jones](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/y/9/y/2/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13y9yy.png/1425797673685.jpg)
Daniel Cherny Replacement Essendon player Clint Jones is not looking at his opportunity to play for the Bombers as a way back onto an AFL list.
Bombers' top-ups make up the numbers
![Paul Chapman will skipper the Dons.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/h/v/l/f/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13up19.png/1425459203735.jpg)
Daniel Cherny While they will be captained by a man wearing No.3, the Essendon team that takes on St Kilda on Saturday will feature players donning numbers in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Player shortage hits Dons' VFL practice match
![The Bombers' VFL team has been forced to scrap a practice match.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/a/e/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13v292.png/1425455717036.jpg)
Daniel Cherny The flow-on effect of the Essendon supplements saga has forced the cancellation of a practice game between the Bombers' VFL team and Williamstown.
VFL clubs confused about Dons fill-ins
![Former Saint Clint Jones is one of the players who will likely line up for Essendon in the NAB Challenge.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/i/h/9/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13ihm7.png/1424246407026.jpg)
Daniel Cherny Confusion reigned as to how the deals of top-up Essendon players would operate after a meeting of VFL clubs on Wednesday.
Back off Port boys: Ayres
![Gary Ayres and Essendon](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/i/g/y/v/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13hhxq.png/1424241343097.jpg)
Daniel Cherny Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres has sent a blunt message in the direction of Essendon, urging them to back off the Borough’s list come the season proper.
Dons approach Coburg defender for NAB Challenge
![Essendon AFL club](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/c/d/9/s/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13h4xk.png/1424407212071.jpg)
Daniel Cherny Former Collingwood rookie Michael Hartley is looming as the first state league player to be plucked by Essendon for the upcoming NAB Challenge.
Essendon to play in NAB Challenge
![Essendon players.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/e/8/p/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.13dof0.png/1425457761585.jpg)
Jon Pierik, Michael Gleeson and Daniel Cherny Essendon chairman Paul Little has denied the Bombers were ever going to boycott the NAB Challenge, and says an "appropriate" solution has been found with the 26 players from the club's list in 2012 sitting out the pre-season competition.
Northern exposure: locals cold on stadium makeover
![No-one doubts North Ballarat is a successful club but many question it as the sight for AFL games.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/3/8/r/i/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.1382qy.png/1423305461685.jpg)
Paul Daffey It was a bolt from the blue, or red as the case may be, when Labor's putative premier Daniel Andrews and Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon made a joint announcement at Ballarat's Eureka Stadium before the election in November.
MCG games absent from VFL fixture
![VFL games as curtain-raisers could return under an AFL plan.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/j/f/h/0/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.129rnh.png/1415521226347.jpg)
Daniel Cherny An MCG curtain-raiser has failed to materialise in the VFL fixture, although Collingwood have not given up hope they can still play VFL/AFL double-headers at the home of football in 2015.
Magpies and Blues in talks about MCG double-header
![Rhyce Shaw in action during an AFL reserves curtain-raiser against Carlton at the MCG in 1999.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/6/5/o/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.12661g.png/1418467866162.jpg)
Daniel Cherny Collingwood are set for Saturday morning fever at the MCG next year, with the soon to be released VFL fixture likely to hand the Magpies a pair of Saturday curtain-raisers, including the tantalising possibility of a Magpies v Blues MCG double-header.
Carlton target expansion clubs for curtain-raisers
![The Northern Blues could take on Frankston at Etihad Stadium.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/2/1/m/v/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.121mw4.png/1417852933052.jpg)
Daniel Cherny The revival of curtain-raisers at Carlton home games seems likely to be confined to just two matches in 2015, with low-drawing dates against expansion teams pin-pointed as likely options.
Roosters won't go the way of Bendigo, says CEO
![Record-breaker: Coach Gerard FitzGerald (left).](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/z/r/g/j/u/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.11spzq.png/1416824903988.jpg)
Daniel Cherny North Melbourne is going full steam ahead with Werribee, leaving North Ballarat to fend for themselves.
Seven kicks a goal by landing VFL coverage
Jon Pierik Channel Seven has added to its bulging sports portfolio by securing the rights to the VFL for the next two seasons, and will link its Saturday broadcast with its AFL coverage.
Saad moves back to steam forward
![Adam Saad is hopeful of being drafted.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/o/5/y/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.11o5z7.png/1416311422453.jpg)
Daniel Cherny Adam Saad was shattered after being overlooked in the 2012 national draft, but he picked himself up and he's back.
Sandringham appoints St Kilda assistant coach Paul Hudson as coach
![Sandringham Zebras.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/9/z/w/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.119zrb.png/1413954913969.jpg)
Brent Diamond St Kilda's VFL affiliate Sandringham has appointed Saints assistant Paul Hudson as its coach for the next two seasons in the last of the coaching reshuffle in the VFL ranks.
Cyril Rioli ready for AFL grand final
![Cyril Rioli smiles for a fan snap.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/m/7/z/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10mncj.png/1413257544443.jpg)
Cyril Rioli believes neither he or Hawthorn will be hamstrung in the AFL grand final.
VFL showcase compromised by AFL needs
![Cyril Rioli sits on the bench during the VFL grand final on Sunday.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/k/j/f/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10kdvb.png/1413257294424.jpg)
Brent Diamond The VFL competition is in two minds and both collided on grand final day. One, it seems, wants to see the traditional VFA teams prosper, the another, which is becoming more dominant, is that AFL Victoria dies not want it tagged as an AFL reserves competition.
Footscray celebrates first day flag since '54
![Footscray players celebrate with the premeirship cup after winning the VFL grand final match against Box Hill on Sunday.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/k/2/u/n/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10k2em.png/1413258340276.jpg)
Brent Diamond Footscray has won its first day flag of any type since 1954 after defeating the Box Hill Hawks by 22 points in front of the biggest VFL grand final crowd in 25 years on Sunday.
Dogs have bark, but Hawks are flying
![Box Hill players celebrate their preliminary final win over Williamstown.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/j/u/0/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10jofw.png/1413259772767.jpg)
Brent Diamond Whether it is a surprise to see Footscray – in its return as a stand-alone club – in this year's VFL grand final, the Bulldogs won't take anything for granted.
Rioli's grand-final bid to begin in VFL
![Explosive: Cyril Rioli.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/h/b/d/p/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10iu74.png/1413259973186.jpg)
Jesse Hogan Cyril Rioli's near three-month absence from playing is set to end this weekend in the VFL, as Hawthorn prepares for him to make a dramatic return for next weekend's grand final.
Box Hill Hawks looking to go back-to-back
![Ben McEvoy of the Hawks and Nick Meese of Williamstown compete for the ball during the VFL preliminary final match at North Port Oval on Sunday.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/g/v/r/r/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10gupa.png/1413259808930.jpg)
Brent Diamond Hawthorn’s VFL affiliate, the Box Hill Hawks, will aim to go back-to-back when it meets Footscray in next Sunday's VFL grand final at Etihad Stadium, after a pulsating seven-point preliminary final win over Williamstown on Sunday.
Footscray rolls Port to make grand final
![Happy days: Footscray’s Brett Goodes (left) celebrates with Jason Johannisen during Saturday’s preliminary final.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/g/m/s/z/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10glzw.png/1417844624219.jpg)
Brent Diamond Footscray coach Chris Maple hopes Bulldogs fans will travel to Etihad Stadium in droves next Sunday after his team remarkably made the VFL grand final in its return season as a stand-alone team after upsetting Port Melbourne.
Bulldogs brim with talent for match that offers shade of 1923
![A Sherrin footy.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/c/f/a/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10fv51.png/1413259831985.jpg)
Brent Diamond Footscray has named a strong line-up for its preliminary final clash against Port Melbourne as perhaps shades of 1923 hit the VFL in this finals series.
Williamstown to appeal McEvoy decision
![Ben McEvoy celebrates an AFL goal earlier in the year.](/web/20150309064809im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/d/t/q/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.10dtsj.png/1413259828644.jpg)
Daniel Cherny Williamstown has advised AFL Victoria it will appeal the decision to allow out-of-favour Hawthorn ruckman Ben McEvoy to play in the VFL preliminary final for Box Hill on Sunday, which Williamstown claims makes “a mockery of the rules.�