2014 TAC CUP FIXTURE PREVIEW Season start The year kicks off this weekend with Metro Round, with the season consisting of 18 rounds in AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Regional areas of Warrnambool, Hamilton, Lavington, “The overall draft numbers last year again proves Camperdown and Mildura are all fi xtured to host TAC how well the structure of Victorian football works Cup games in 2014, with the 12 TAC Cup regions to in developing players, with the TAC Cup regions and face increased matches against New South Wales community clubs playing a vital role.” (seven), Queensland (six), Tasmania (four) and In the various NAB AFL Drafts, 38 players from the Northern Territory (three). TAC Cup were provided a spot on an AFL list, with 26 The interstate sides will not only participate in the selected in the November Draft, and another 12 given lead up to the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships as an AFL Rookie position. per previous years, but for the fi rst time will feature in “The TAC Cup again provided the most draftees from games post the Championships due to there no longer across Australia, and it is pleasing to see the majority being division one versus division two matches. of them formed part of AFL Victoria’s Country and Highlights of the 2014 fi xture include fi ve Peter Metro Academies,” Hook said. Jackson VFL curtain raiser games, one AFL curtain “Those TAC Cup players not drafted should not be raiser with the Calder Cannons to face NSW on the disheartened, but should look at other pathway SCG on June 14, a metro triple header next Sunday at opportunities available to once again put their name in Highgate Rec. Reserve and a country triple header at front of AFL clubs.” Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval in round four. The Laguntas program, which saw three indigenous In a bonus for Victorian football fans, they will also players involved in the inaugural program drafted in get two opportunities to see the best of AFL Victoria’s 2013, will again play games during three of the fi ve Country and Metro Academies go head to head, allocated Development Weekend’s in the fi xture. with Visy Park the battle ground on both May 18 and The programs fi nal game of the year will be played June 8. during the AFL Multicultural Round on the weekend of AFL Victoria State League & Talent Manager John July 19, and will be against the Majak Daw Western Hook said the success of the TAC Cup competition in Jets Squad. helping develop future AFL players and changes to the A number of VFL venues will host increased TAC Cup 2014 NAB AFL Under 18 Championship structure, has games in 2014, with Avalon Airport Oval, Trevor Barker led to other states increasing their participation during Beach Oval, Box Hill City Oval, Burbank Oval and North the year. Port Oval all scheduled for matches this year. Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Anthony Stanguts, David O’Neill Design & Print: Cyan Press Photos: AFL Photo’s (unless otherwise credited) Visy Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 State League & Talent Manager: John Hook www.afl vic.com.au High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Cover photo: 2013 Premiers Eastern Ranges Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Talent Operations Offi cer: Lauren Bunting www.taccup.com.au 1 MEDIA COVERAGE TAC CUP MEDIA COVERAGE Keep up to date with all the action from the TAC Cup via the following media coverage: TAC Cup Radio Tune in from 10:45am for the return of TAC Cup Radio for season 2014. Join Phil Crooks, Rick Morris, Gabe Sorrentino and Paige Cardona as they bring you a weekly TAC Cup match throughout the season. Sunday March 23: Oakleigh Chargers vs Northern Knights Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next week: Gippsland Power vs Dandenong Stingrays, 12:45pm TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars will return to Channel 9 on Sunday May 11. Join Craig Hutchinson and the team as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Returns: Sunday May 11, 1pm on Channel 9. TAC Cup Online Keep up to date with the TAC Cup via the following methods: Website: www.taccup.com.au @TACCup www.facebook.com/taccupfooty TAC CUP TIPSTERS Phil Crooks Rick Morris Gabe Sorrentino Paige Cardona Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Western Jets Calder Cannons Northern Knights Northern Knights Northern Knights Oakleigh Chargers Sandringham Dragons Sandringham Dragons Sandringham Dragons Sandringham Dragons 2 www.afl vic.com.au MARK NEELD Neeld moves to Ranges Mark Neeld has been appointed AFL Victoria’s new eastern region Talent Manager. The former Melbourne coach takes over the role, which includes managing the Eastern Ranges team in the TAC Cup competition, from Anthony Parkin, who has been appointed to the position of Victoria/Tasmania Recruiting Manager with the Port Adelaide Football Club Neeld was selected from a strong fi eld of applicants, with his vast experience in football and background in the education system a key to his selection. “Mark possesses the skill set needed for the role of Talent Manager” AFL Victoria State League and Talent Manager John Hook said of the appointment. “He has a strong background in football, from community right through to AFL level, and we believe this will help him in this new role as he draws on his experiences with Mark Neeld players, parents and key football stakeholders at all levels. welfare and development amongst a number of other “Using his knowledge of the latest trends from the AFL areas. will only benefi t the Eastern Ranges as he helps oversee the identifi cation and development of talented players in “It is a terrifi c program and competition, providing a the region.” number of players with an opportunity to be part of a high Neeld played 74 AFL games for Geelong and Richmond performance environment and to develop before possibly before coaching at community level with Ocean Grove being drafted into the AFL system or to go on to VFL or in the Bellarine Football League and St Joseph’s in the other levels of football.” Geelong Football League. In 2005 he moved to the Western He is no stranger to the TAC Cup competition, having Jets in the TAC Cup, before joining Collingwood in 2008 as previously coached for three years at the Western Jets, an assistant coach. He left the Magpies at the end of the overseeing seeing the likes of Bachar Houli and Callan 2011 season after landing the Melbourne senior coaching Ward as they progressed through to the AFL. job. “I really enjoyed my previous time within the TAC Cup at “It is a really good opportunity,” Neeld said regarding his the Western Jets. new appointment. “It is another one of the attractions of coming back to the “The multifaceted nature of the role appealed to me, with TAC Cup competition that you get to work with the up and it involving football operations, talent identifi cation, player coming stars.” 20th season for Cannons The Calder Cannons will this weekend celebrate their 20th Jake Lever and Victor Carboni year in the competition by wearing a replica of its fi rst ever model the current and jumper as they face Western Jets at Highgate Recreation original jumpers Reserve. This initiative will be the fi rst of a number of events to mark the Cannons’ two decade milestone over the next twelve months. The 20th year celebration will culminate in January 2015 when the club will be hosting a Hall of Fame function, with more information to be sent out in the coming months once fi nalised. The club will encourage all past players, staff, families and friends to attend what will be a great night of celebration looking back over the history of the region. www.taccup.com.au 3 GRAND FINAL REVIEW Eastern Ranges claim TAC Cup premiership The Eastern Ranges marched to their fi rst TAC Cup premiership since 2002 after dispatching the Dandenong Stingrays, writes David O’Neill. An almost complete performance by the Ranges While Daniel Capiron (20 disposals) and Billy Hartung fi nished in a commanding 112-point victory, capping an (22 and two goals) tried their best to stop the Ranges’ amazing transformation after struggling to win a game charge, they were ultimately overwhelmed by a side in 2012. hell-bent on premiership glory. A dominant fi rst half set up a 49-point lead at the main Morrish medallist and Ranges skipper Ben Cavarra break before the Ranges celebrated their triumph with added a TAC Cup Grand Final best-on-ground honour a 10-goal-to-two fi nal term. to his list of accolades after running riot with 30 disposals. The Stingrays, usually so precise by foot, made error after error to prove no match for a hard-running Eastern His ability to fi nd the ball in close and use it on the side. outside was one of the features of the Ranges’ win, but he certainly wasn’t alone. Cavarra was well supported by the work of hard-nut Jordan Walker (26) and the versatile trio of Connor O’Sullivan (22), Christian Petracca (21 and two goals) and Daniel McStay (18 and seven marks). Returning stars Tom Boyd (four goals) and Mitch Honeychurch (three), along with Matt Traynor (three), Daniel Welsh (three) and Michael Apeness (two) kept the scoreboard ticking over.