TAC CUP ROUND 9 MAY 31 - JUNE 1, 2014 $3.00 OOakleighakleigh CChargershargers 114.12.964.12.96 d NNSW/ACTSW/ACT RRamsams 33.13.31.13.31 Oakleigh Chargers 14.12.96 d NSW/ACT Rams 3.13.31 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL Welcome to Indigenous Round This weekend the annual Indigenous Round will be played across all levels of football. The round’s theme, ‘Everything’s Possible’ will highlight Nicholls was a pioneeriihiflid in the campaign for equality and the contribution of Indigenous footballers, past and recognition of Indigenous Australians. present, and will celebrate the diversity that exists within In another match Saturday, the Peter Jackson VFL State Australian Rules Football. squad will be battling against an old foe, the SANFL State The celebration of sport, culture and community are at squad at Port Melbourne. the heart of the event and the week-long celebration The Victorians will be bolstered by the talents of aims to create awareness within the broader community Sandringham captain, Adam Cockie, with the former West of the success of Indigenous footballers as well as raise Coast Eagle relishing the opportunity to display his skills awareness of some of the issues facing Indigenous during Indigenous Round. Cockie’s wealth of experience Australians. and proven leadership skills will be an asset to the VFL as Indigenous Round offers exciting opportunities for they try to erase the memories of a last quarter defeat to footballers and fans to make connections to Indigenous the WAFL in 2013. communities. The round highlights achievement as well as Up and coming Indigenous footballer and former inspires the next generation of Indigenous players. Football Dandenong Stingray, Clayton McCartney demonstrates the provides the vehicle for dreams and aspirations, as well future of Indigenous football. With determination and drive, as encouraging understanding and acceptance between the Richmond VFL youngster is hoping to make his mark in diverse groups. the State league competition this year. A graduate of the There will be plenty of football action at all levels across Kickstart program and the TAC Cup, his future looks bright. the weekend, showcasing the input of Indigenous players As featured in the Record this weekend, the next crop of through a number of games held over the weekend. Indigenous talent across Victoria has been selected as part The round aims to celebrate and promote the inclusion of the second Laguntas Squad. Laguntas was developed in of Indigenous cultures and offers fans as well as players 2013 to help support Indigenous boys aged between 16 and a vehicle for building stronger ties with Indigenous 18 who are in, or trying to join the elite talent program. communities. The number of Indigenous players within the TAC Cup Central to the round is the contribution from the players competition has increased in recent years, and the next themselves and the recognition of the hard work they have crop of talent need to look no further than the likes of put in to achieve their football success. Jarman Impey (Murray Bushrangers to Port Adelaide) and This Saturday we will be witness to a special VFL event Jay Kennedy Harris (Oakleigh Chargers to Melbourne) to with Richmond taking on Essendon at Punt Road Oval seek inspiration on what can be achieved. (ME Bank Centre). The fi ercely contested match will be an This weekend is a celebration of Australian Rules Football exciting exhibition of the game’s rising talent. The best on and of the invaluable contribution made by Indigenous ground will be presented with the Sir Doug Nicholls Award. players. Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Anthony Stanguts, David O’Neill, Kate Smart, Kate Mitchell, Brian Bartlett (cover pic) Design & Print: Cyan Press Visy Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Photos: AFL Photo’s (unless otherwise credited) GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams www.afl vic.com.au State League & Talent Manager: John Hook High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Cover photo: Jarrod Healy (Eastern Ranges) and Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Aidyn Johnson (Bendigo Pioneers) Talent Operations Coordinator: 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 12:45pm for TAC Cup Radio. Join Phil Crooks, Rick Morris, Gabe Sorrentino and Paige Cardona as they bring you a weekly TAC Cup match throughout the season. Saturday May 31: Western Jets vs Geelong Falcons Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game (June 14): Murray Bushrangers vs North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars has returned to Channel 9 for season 2014. Join Craig Hutchinson and the team as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Tune in this Sunday June 1, 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 RADIO TIPSTERS LW TOTAL LW TOTAL LW TOTAL LW TOTAL Rick Morris 5 32 Paige Cardona 3 31 Phil Crooks 6 31 Gabe Sorrentino 6 31 Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Bendigo Pioneers NSW/ACT Rams NSW/ACT Rams NSW/ACT Rams Western Jets Geelong Falcons Western Jets Western Jets Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Oakliegh Chargers Oakliegh Chargers Murray Bushrangers Murray Bushrangers North Ballarat Rebels Sandringham Dragons North Ballarat Rebels North Ballarat Rebels Dandenong Stingrays Dandenong Stingrays Dandenong Stingrays Dandenong Stingrays 2 www.afl vic.com.au WILL AUSTIN Austin making his mark on and off the field When North Ballarat Rebels Talent Manager Phil Partington, describes Will Austin as an “incredible young man” it is not a throwaway line. When you consider what Austin, a Year 12 student at St Patrick’s College Ballarat, has accomplished already, and just as signifi cantly plans to achieve, Partington’s call is unerringly accurate. Austin is an outstanding young man from the Gunditjmara people, who has immersed himself in a bunch of projects - all with the recurring theme of helping others. He was one of 13 people across Australia to win a Jim Stynes Scholarship; he’s completing a traineeship in community services with the City of Ballarat Youth Services; he’s a Board member of Headspace, a local youth support service and he’s joined the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to share insights and help inform workers about the needs of young people. Last year he attended that National Indigenous Youth Gathering with the national Indigenous Youth Leadership Academy, which carried the theme many voices, one future. One of the objectives of the camp was to start up a campaign. Austin, along with fi ve others, embarked on tackling the topic of youth suicide prevention. Austin’s campaign was featured recently on Channel 9s ‘TAC me to do,” Austin said on ‘TAC Cup Future Stars’. Cup Future Stars’ show. “It’s my passion, it’s what I love doing. Everyone does have While he stressed he isn’t trained to help anyone with a purpose and everyone will fi nd their passion eventually mental health conditions or who is suicidal, Austin said he and they will realise how easy it is to do things that you are and the group is willing to be there for anyone in a time of really passionate about. need. “I encourage youth to stand up and speak their voice and get “Our message is that a meaningful conversation can save a their message out there, whatever they want to change in life,” Austin said on ‘TAC Cup Future Stars’. the world.” Just recently, Austin received the Ricci Marks award, which Given his natural instinct to help others, it’s no surprise that recognises young indigenous achievers in a raft of areas, Austin has joined the Glenlyon fi re brigade after hearing that including community leadership. they were short on young volunteers. “I’ve got the pressure on me now to keep my community Along from all his selfl ess passion to help others, Austin is involvement up and doing what Ricci Marks would like for a talented footballer and understandably thrives in the team environment. Austin, who is also playing school football with St Pat’s, played his fi rst TAC Cup game for the season last weekend and was a solid contributor in the Rebels 20-point win over Gippsland Power. Partington noted that the 17-year-old is the quickest player on the club’s list, running 2.83 for 20 metres. To put that in context, his time would put him in the top three for the 20 metre sprint at last year’s NAB AFL Draft Combine. An outstanding young man off the fi eld, the Rebels are looking for Austin to continue his development on fi eld and be a signifi cant contributor in the second half of the TAC Cup season. www.taccup.com.au 3 LAGUNTAS PROGRAM The Laguntas Program’s second coming The 2014 Laguntas Program kicks off next weekend, looking to build on the momentum gained in last year’s highly successful fi rst edition. The philosophy behind the Laguntas Program was, and “Ultimately the aim of Laguntas is to fi ll the void that has remains, a simple one.