FOR many AFL players it’s a chore to play in the VFL. For Brad Miller, it’s a pleasure. In a show of loyalty to the jumper he has worn most of the season, Miller preferred to play for the Casey Scorpions in last Sunday’s qualifying final against North Ballarat rather than accept a farewell match for Melbourne. He announced his decision on Twitter. “Had to make a big call today ... I have decided to play with the Scorps in the finals this week,” he Tweeted. “Really appreciate the club’s (Melbourne) offer for a farewell but know I wouldn’t feel right about turning my back on the Scorps for week 1 of the finals.” Having played so many VFL games this year, the writing was on the wall for 27-year-old Miller. Last Monday the writing was also in the newspapers, after Casey coach Bradley Gotch indicated Melbourne would delist Miller at season’s end. Since it hadn’t been announced to the players, Demons officials hurriedly knocked up a press release to confirm as much. But Miller had no issue with Gotch, a day later confirming he had chosen the VFL over the AFL. Gotch said it had given his club a “tremendous lift”. “You can imagine what sort of impact that’s had on the boys, Brad Miller wanting to run out with them and play finals,” he said. “We would have supported him with whatever decision he made. He’s made a fantastic contribution to Casey this year, Millsy.”

OCSOBER has replaced October on the Box Hill Hawks’ calendar. As part of their partnership with Life Education Victoria, Hawks’ players, coaches, board and staff will abstain from alcohol and raise funds to support the Life Education programs. Hawks coach Brendon Bolton said: “The players really buy in to the program which leads to strong lessons on the management of alcohol and the balance with elite performance. The Ocsober campaign fits in well with our benchmarks of resilience, honesty, passion and respect, and the benefits for our group are enjoyed on and off the field.” The Hawks are aiming to raise $20,000 for Life Education.

THE VFL has put out an initial list of players from which two teams will be assembled for the inaugural Young Guns match on preliminary final weekend at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne. It features VFL and TAC Cup players, as well as a handful of players from country and suburban ranks. The squad: Ben Duscher, Lachlan Delahunty, Trent Shinners (Bendigo Bombers), Leigh Masters, Lucas Anderson (Bendigo Pioneers), David Mirra, James Orr, Liam Tobin, Michael Thompson, Tom Warby (Box Hill Hawks), Ozgur Uysal (Calder Cannons), Tim Smith (Casey Scorpions), Brendan Festwer, James Lawton, Ryan Allan (Coburg Tigers), Pat Liston (Collingwood), Tyson Hunt (De La Salle), Ned Gilbert (East Point), Mason Crozier, Ryan Wilson (Eastern Ranges), Marc Westcott, Mark Baguley, Russ Gabriel (Frankston), Brayden Salton, Dale Hoghton, Dean MacDonald, Ryan Pendlebury (Gippsland Power), Jamie Elliott (Murray Bushrangers), Nick Scanlon (Narre Warren), Matt Sully, Tom McDonald (North Ballarat Rebels), Ahmed Saad, Anton Woods, Tyson Thomas (Northern Bullants), Damian Mascitti (Oakleigh Chargers), Josh Freezer (Old Melburnians), Tom Campbell (Old Scotch), Daniel Noonan, Nick Wynne (Old Xaverians), Cameron Sharp, Jack Frost, Jackson Sketcher, Jake Dermott, James Morris, Tim Lockwood (Sandringham Dragons), Dylan Jones, James Hallahan, Jonno Nash, Sam O’Sullivan, Shane Tregear (Sandringham Zebras), Xavier Moloney (Swan Hill), Tom Durward (Tatura), Dan Nicholson (University Blues), Alex Simpson, Ben Moloney, Farran Priest, Kyle Hartigan, Scott Sherlock, (Werribee), Adam Kennedy (Western Jets).

SANDRINGHAM veteran David Gallagher will play on next year. The 30-year-old wingman last week confirmed he would line up for a ninth season at the Trevor Barker Oval.But he says the club has much work in front of it before then. “I had a chat to (president) Gerry Ryan and (general manager) John Mennie and, yeah, I said I’d be returning,” he said.“There’s a few things we need to sort out in terms of us being a successful team on the ground. Off the ground the club is in a good state. On the field, we need to sort a few things out. But, yeah, I’m not going to walk away from Sandringham.” Gallagher said the Zebras must recruit well, specifically a defender, onballers and a key forward. He said the club’s 2004-05-06 premiership hat-trick was built around a core of senior VFL men complemented by AFL players. “We need to get together a group of 10 players who just will not be dropped, who will be reliable enough every week to be definite starters. That’s what we had in the premiership years and that’s what North Ballarat and Williamstown have at the moment. It can shift back very quickly. I remember in 2003 when I first went to Sandy we were average, neither here nor there, we just made the finals. Then we got a core group together and we won the flag.” He said Sandy could expect more from the St Kilda list as the likes of Tom Simpkin, Tom Lynch, Tom Walsh, Rhys Stanley and Alistair Smith matured into AFL contention. Gallagher named Johnno Nash, Maddison Hardiman, Tomi Johnston, Chris Waller and Andrew Fleming as players capable of becoming good senior regulars. “They need a sense of security when they come into the senior team,” he said. “They need to know they’re not going to get five minutes’ game time and dropped back.”

SPIDER Moloney’s marvellous VFL career took in another milestone last Sunday when he played his 200th club game for North Ballarat. The great full back is out to captain the Roosters to the premiership for a third consecutive season.

– PAUL AMY