Footscray have celebrated a return to the VFL and their spiritual home at Victorian University Whitten Oval with a thumping 117-point win over Richmond in the opening round of the Peter Jackson VFL season. Around 5000 fans watched on as the Bulldogs ran the Tigers ragged, kicking twenty goals to four after quarter-time to win 26.9.165 to 7.6.48; Ayce Cordy and Tory Dickson the chief destroyers in front of goal with five and four respectively.

The terraces were once again lined with the red, white and blue as the beer flowed and the chants of 'Footscray' bellowed from the E.J.Whitten Stand. It was the first match for competition points since 1996.

Essendon will play Footscray Edgewater in this season's Bartercard Victorian Premier League final after out muscling St.Kilda in their semi-final at the Junction Oval. The Bombers needed 225 for victory on the second day and managed to survive an early scare to reel in the total with three wickets to spare. A match winning un-broken partnership of 79 between Clint McKay, 61no, and Nish Perera, 32no, sees Essendon reach their first final since the 2000-2001 season; their last premiership way back in the 1969-1970 season.

Collingwood edged out North Ballarat by twelve points in a close affair at Victoria Park in round one of the Peter Jackson VFL season. The Pies were wasteful in front of goal and appeared in control for most of the day seeing off a late charge from the Roosters in the last quarter winning 11.19.85 to 11.7.73.

Played in warm conditions the margin hovered around the two to three goal mark all game, however, had Collingwood kicked straight early, the match could well have been over by half-time. 

The Camberwell Magpies have kept their Bartercard Victorian Premier League cricket season alive with a strong performance to defeat Melbourne University in round sixteen of the competition at University Main Oval. Batting first in scorching heat the 'Pies amassed 3-345 with number three Simon Hill brilliant, compiling a career-best un-beaten 169 including twenty boundaries and three sixes. Hill combined with Thomas Russ, 64, in a game defining partnership of 200 and with a late burst of 40 from Justin Lampard the 'Pies were well on their way to snuffing the home side out.

Student’s spinner Fawad Ahmed took all three Camberwell wickets to fall finishing with 3-120 off 32 overs. On day two the Student's run chase began cautiously with runs hard to come by thanks to some tight bowling by Pie's paceman Will Walker and Simon O'Brien.