Dean Towers Was Named As the of Our Premier Competitions
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PPETERETER JJACKSONACKSON VVFLFL GGRANDRAND FFINALINAL PPORTORT MMELBOURNEELBOURNE VVSS GEELONGGEELONG CATSCATS VFL & TAC CUP, GRAND FINALS AFL VICTORIA SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2012 $5$5 TTACAC CCUPUP GGRANDRAND FFINALINAL GGIPPSLANDIPPSLAND POWERPOWER VVSS OOAKLEIGHAKLEIGH CCHARGERSHARGERS Celebrating 21 years of creating champions on the field, and safer drivers on the road. It’s like a smart phone, with the added benefi t of a 2.0L EcoBoost engine. MONDEO ZETEC ECOBOOST HATCH The Mondeo’s powerful EcoBoost DUAL- ZONE $ engine not only off ers 20% better CLIMATE CONTROL 33,990 fuel economy, it also delivers 149kW USB & IPOD* # of power and 300Nm of torque! CONNECTIVITY DRIVEAWAY #Recommended#Recommended off er on offnew er vehicleson new vehiclesat participating at participating Dealers. Dealers.Private and Private ABN and buyers ABN only. buyers While only. stocks While last. stocks last. Ford DealersFord andDealers Ford and Australia Ford Australia reserves reserves the right the to changeright to orchange extend or this extend off er. this *iPod off er. is *iPoda trademark is a trademark of Apple of Inc. Apple Inc. Please referPlease to ford.com.aurefer to ford.com.au for iPod forcompatibility. iPod compatibility. EDITORIAL Welcome to Grand Final Day THE culmination of the preseason, home and away rounds and three weeks of fi nals are reached today with the Grand Finals FIRSTLY, and very importantly, coaches: Nick Stevens has taken Vic Country both performed well at welcome and thanks to all Gippsland through a season where the NAB AFL U18 Championships supporters of the Peter Jackson they lost just three games while with Vic Metro winning the title. VFL and TAC Cup competitions Justin Wenke has handled well the It was the 17th time in the past for attending our Grand Finals complexities of school commitments 21 years a Victorian team has today and the many football fans to have Oakleigh advance from an triumphed, an extraordinary result. who have attended games during Elimination Final. Underscoring this achievement, the 2012 season. The Peter Jackson VFL Grand Final nine Victorians were named to the Like you, AFL Victoria looks to pits together two of our oldest, All Australian U18 team. today with much expectation and most traditional, proudest and Gippsland Power’s Nick Graham anticipation. successful clubs – Geelong and won the Morrish Medal; Werribee’s The twin-billing feature of the Peter Port Melbourne – coached by two of Ben Ross capped a splendid Jackson VFL and TAC Cup Grand the game’s highly decorated players comeback season to win the J.J. Finals is the climax of what have Gary Ayres and Matthew Knights. Liston trophy and North Ballarat’s been outstanding seasons for both Ayres and Knights both won Dean Towers was named as the of our premier competitions. best and fairests at Hawthorn Fothergill Round medallist for the The TAC Cup Grand Final will and Richmond respectively, both most promising U23 VFL player. showcase some of the fi nest, most captained their club, both made the Underpinning all these marvellous exciting young men in the TAC Cup club’s Team Of The Century and on fi eld achievements has been a competition, some who are on the have coached in the AFL. hard-working, energetic band of cusp of joining the game’s elite in Geelong entered the then Victorian volunteers that keep football Clubs the AFL. Football Association in 1877, Port ticking over. AFL Victoria is certainly The Peter Jackson VFL Grand Melbourne followed nine years appreciative of their passion and Final highlights a standalone VFL later. Not long after they would take commitment. Club going head-to-head with different, but hugely successful Once again, AFL Victoria has a standalone AFL team, for the football journeys only to renew been fortunate to have the support cherished prize of the premiership acquaintances in the 2002 VFL of many valued partners. The cup. The lead-up games in the Grand Final. partnerships we have with the TAC, Peter Jackson VFL Final series Now, a decade later these two now in its 21st year and recently which have been powered by MILK great clubs are again foes on one extended for a further three years, have been outstanding. of Victorian football’s biggest days, Peter Jackson Melbourne, Dairy The TAC Cup Grand Final brings both seeking to add another chapter Australia, Ford and ABC TV are very together a country versus city to their rich history. much appreciated. match-up with Gippsland Power Already, we have celebrated many We hope you enjoy what promises squaring off against Oakleigh stunning team and individual to be a memorable day of Australian Chargers in their fi rst ever Grand success stories. Football. Final meeting. Victoria’s talented player pathway Certainly, it is a credit to fi rst-year again shone brightly. Vic Metro and - Grant Williams General Manager VFL & TAC CUP, GRAND FINALS HEADQUARTERS. CONTENTS. SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2012 Media Coverage 4 Geelong Cats Profi les 34 Visy Park Grand Final Preview 5 Umpire Profi les 38 Gate 3 Royal Parade Media Predictions 11 Grant Williams 41 Carlton Nth VIC 3054 Fothergill Round Medallist 13 TAC 21st Anniversary Team 47 GPO Box 4337 Development League Review 14 TAC Cup Team of the Year 52 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 PJ VFL Team of the Year 17 Gippsland Power Profi les 54 Phone: (03) 8341 6000 Season to Remember 21 TAC Cup Team Lists 56 Fax: (03) 9380 1076 Port Melbourne Profi les 30 Oakleigh Chargers Profi les 58 Website: www.afl vic.com.au VFL Team Lists 32 AFL Victoria Development 62 www.vfl .com.au | 3 MEDIA COVERAGE Media Coverage ABC TV Sunday September 23: Port Melbourne vs Geelong from 2pm Replay: 2:30am Wednesdays ABC TV SEN/VFL RADIO Sunday September 23: Port Melbourne vs Geelong from 1pm Live on SEN, Digital Radio via Aussie, Red Time Sport and SEN I-Phone Apps or online via vfl .com.au or sen.com.au 3WBC Sunday September 23: Port Melbourne vs Geelong from 1pm Listen to 94.1 FM or online at www.3wbc.org.au SEN Thursday September 27 The Peter Jackson VFL Show 8pm – 8:30pm K-Rock Sunday September 23: Port Melbourne vs Geelong from 1pm 95.5fm or www.krock.com.au ABC Radio Sunday September 23: Port Melbourne vs Geelong from 1pm 774am Footy Online Keep up with the latest VFL news online via: www.vfl .com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/vfl footy Twitter: @VFLnews #PJVFL. COVER CONTRIBUTORS VFL: Grand Final coaches Port Melbourne’s Editor: Anthony Stanguts Gary Ayres (left) and Geelong’s Matthew anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Knights Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Kate Gurney, Matt Lee, TAC Cup: Grand Final coaches Gippsland Leon Harris, Anton Grbac, Power’s Nick Stevens (right) and Oakleigh Anthony Stanguts. Chargers Justin Wenke Design & Print: Red Onion Creative (03) 5221 4408 Photos: AFL Photos (unless otherwise credited) 4 | www.afl vic.com.au GRAND FINAL PREVIEW Grand Final Preview Port Melbourne vs Geelong Cats The Grand Final captains and coaches (left to right) John Baird, Gary Ayres, Matthew Knights and Troy Selwood. And, while its winning A far different scenario faces sequence, which stretched Port Melbourne than last year from 21 to a competition recent when it met Williamstown, which record 28 games, was snapped had a mix of VFL players and earlier in the season, Port Western Bulldog players. FROM a far it is your Melbourne has won 15 of its 20 Geelong will fi eld as few as quintessential David versus games this season. three or four VFL players, but Goliath stoush: a team of Included in that number was those players – captain Troy part-timers against the might a 22-point victory against Selwood, former Werribee of professional footballers. Geelong in the Qualifying Final captain and dual best and But, there’s a twist to this David/ earlier in the month. fairest winner Dominic Gleeson Goliath battle that will unfold But, that match was at the and Andrew McLean – are pure today between Port Melbourne cosy confi nes of the North Port quality. and Geelong – David is Oval where Port Melbourne So, the stage is set for an favoured by many before the has built a fortress during enthralling Grand Final. Can contest begins. the Gary Ayres-coached era. Geelong reverse the Qualifying For all the apparent lopsided The Borough has won 22 of a Final result to deny Port appearance, what must be possible 22 games at home in Melbourne its back-to-back considered is several things, the past two seasons. premiership? none the least that Port With the Peter Jackson VFL The VFL Cats have given its Melbourne is an extremely Grand Final at Etihad Stadium supporters, coach Matthew gifted team. it presents a vastly different Knights and his staff plenty of That’s not an understatement. dynamic. It was supposed to worrying moments along the The Borough went through the be Port Melbourne’s Achilles route. 2011 season undefeated on last season, but the Borough It took Geelong until deep into route to an historic premiership relished the challenge to the last quarter to overhaul Box win. emerge victorious. Hill Hawks then they nearly www.vfl .com.au | 5 SECTIONGRAND FINAL HEADER PREVIEW coughed up an eight goal lead Geelong’s Shane Kersten. against Werribee to scrape home by fi ve points in the Preliminary Final. What has been the most impressive aspect about Geelong is that it has the capacity to score in rapid fi re succession. It did so several times against Port Melbourne in the Qualifying Final, again late in the Semi Final against Box Hill Hawks as well as against Werribee.