Rumour Mill: Western Bulldogs could be left alone in VFL
Posted by Brent DiamondJul 14. 2012 9:10 am
THERE are murmurings that Western Bulldogs could go alone it in the VFL next season with Williamstown believed to be keen to part ways with its AFL affiliate and become the fourth stand alone VFL club, alongside Port Melbourne, Frankston and Bendigo from next year.
There has been talk about the topic all week and has perhaps been triggered further by an article in Inside Football magazine insinuating the move was close to happening well before the 2014 deadline.
If Williamstown was to get its way and go stand alone earlier than the 2014 deadline, the Bulldogs would be in disarray and would somehow have to find the cash to field a stand alone VFL team. The alternative would be to convince former partner Werribee to become a partner once more, but that appears a certain long shot because of ditching Werribee for Williamstown at the end of 2007.
Werribee, too, appears content with its current part-time relationship with North Melbourne but is likely to go stand alone after 2014 also with North Ballarat to maintain a relationship with the Roos.
AFL Victoria is currently conducting reviews on alignments but hopeful that all can be maintained until the end of 2014.
CARLTON defender Bret Thornton is currently weighing up his options and is believed to have already been told that he is likely to be delisted at the end of the season.
Thornton, who kicked five goals in the VFL last week, and still didn’t manage a call-up to the Blues this week despite a lack of talls in the loss to the Roos, appears destined to look elsewhere with Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast in the market for a tall, experienced defender.
Thornton was close to being traded to Hawthorn a few years ago.
GEELONG and Collingwood both have wishful thinking with the Cats aspiring to have ruckman Nathan Vardy back in the mix in the VFL later this year in a bid to play finals, while Pies defender Harry O’Brien became a doctor overnight according to Pies general manager Geoff Walsh in stating that Andrew Krakouer and Brent Macaffer could overcome knee injuries this season and play.
According to both clubs now, all three appear long shots to play AFL footy this year.
Tags: Bret Thornton, Nathan Vardy, VFL, Williamstown
Filled under: Football Nation Feature, Latest News, Rumour Mill
