Northern Bullants Vs Port Melbourne ALL-NEW RANGER Ready to Take on the World
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AFL VICTORIA ROUND 4, APRIL 23-24, 2011 TOP SPOT UP FOR GRABS Northern Bullants vs Port Melbourne ALL-NEW RANGER Ready to take on the world Tested to the limits and beyond Meet the team and the locations that pushed the all-new Ranger to the limits and beyond at ford.com.au/newranger Pre-production 4x4 XLT Crew Cab shown in Aurora Blue. Appearance may change at time of introduction. editorial Extra player adds to the game The changes to the 23rd player rule have given more players the chance to experience senior VFL football. A FEW years ago AFL Victoria have concluded. named in the VFL team’s 22 introduced the 23rd player rule, The 23rd player rule puts can be considered for the 23rd an innovation which has been similarly aged Victorians in player. a resounding success on a a situation with the same It ensures that as many exiting variety of levels. opportunity so they too can be TAC Cup players as possible Its basic principle is to provide assessed. are afforded the opportunity to young Victorians, both at TAC Also, the rule provides an taste VFL football. Cup and the competition’s opportunity for late maturing or And, for the fi rst time, the fi rst-year graduates, with players who may have missed opportunity to name a 23rd experience in the VFL. large chunks of time during player (provided they are on a It’s part of a clearly defi ned their fi nal TAC Cup year to VFL list) is available for those pathway that encourages and showcase their talent. clubs who participate in the provides aspiring players a It is the quintessential win-win fi nals right to and including the chance to test themselves at situation. VFL Grand Final. the game’s second tier level – Clearly, it’s also another point Again, this is a wonderful the VFL, which we believe is of difference in what already is opportunity that ensures young the best standard State League a unique competition. players can experience VFL in the country. As our game has evolved, so football throughout the season. For AFL recruiters it gives an too has the 23rd player rule, Already, there has been insight into how young players which basically expands the double-digit fi rst year VFL can cope with the step up to interchange bench to fi ve players make their VFL debuts VFL football and all its ancillary players. as the 23rd player. pressures. Six times during the season top Signifi cantly, some like Adam Both the SANFL and WAFL aged players in the TAC Cup Marcon, whose profi le is competitions provide the competition can be selected by included in this edition of the opportunity for their better their VFL affi liate club. Record, have featured among young players to play in No TAC Cup graduate is their club’s best players. their senior competitions, allowed to play more than three particularly after their NAB AFL games as the nominated 23rd - Grant Williams U18 Championships obligation player and no player once AFL Victoria General Manager APRIL 23rd-24th, 2011 Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au HEADQUARTERS CONTENTS Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Matt Lee, Ben Guthrie, Adem Saricaoglu, Brendan Lucas, Visy Park Sam Landy, Anna Harrington Gate 3 Royal Parade Printer: Red Onion Creative Photo’s: Getty Images, Morgan Hancock Carlton Nth VIC 3054 Advertising: David Howard GPO Box 4337 (03) 8341 6007 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams VFL 5 - 34 Football Operations Manager: John Hook Phone: (03) 8341 6000 High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Fax: (03) 9380 1076 Leon Harris TAC Cup 35 -38 Football Operations Offi cer: Luke Gatti Website: www.afl vic.com.au Football Operations Coordinator: Sophie Timms www.afl vic.com.au 3 note from the editor Easter weekend of VFL action Easter weekend in the VFL is set to provide some huge highlights with a top of the table clash and a game down the Surf Coast. NOTICE anything different about the ladder, but to the winner of Football Clubs will be keen to see the cover this week? For those this week’s ABC TV game, top this as a regular season fi xture. keen observers you will have spot will be theirs at the end of As you would have read in the realised the distinct absence of the round. These two teams are Record last week, it is a big year the TAC Cup from the front cover not the only ones who remain for Williamstown playing away of the AFL Victoria Record. undefeated after three rounds - from home all season, with their That is due to the TAC Cup this Williamstown also sit just a game temporary ‘home’ ground this week having a Development behind both these sides, and will year Avalon Airport Oval. Credit Weekend, with no games being be waiting to jump another spot must go to the club though, for a played in the TAC Cup. It is the further up the ladder this week if unique offer to their co-tenants. fi rst of fi ve Development Rounds they can take their winning run to Williamstown, as a special offer during the season, and what it three, if they overcome Geelong to Werribee Football Club 2011 means for VFL supporters this on Sunday in Torquay. members, has offered any weekend, is you have the AFL Yes dear reader, you did read member who attends any of the Victoria Record almost wholly correct, Torquay! In a fi rst for the 4 nominated Williamstown ‘home’ and solely devoted to the VFL VFL and the Surf Coast Shire, games (May 7, May 28, June 18 (barring some match reviews and the Seagulls will host the Cats in and August 13) and presents stats at the back just to keep you Torquay on Easter Sunday. The their 2011 Werribee membership up to date with the TAC Cup). match has come about because ticket - admission will be only What a weekend to have all the of the $8.3 million refurbishment $5.00 instead of the usual focus on the VFL as well. It has of Williamstown’s Burbank Oval $10.00. A great initiative to draw only taken us till round four, but at Point Gellibrand which has in the Tigers supporters who may this weekend sees our fi rst bona meant that with the support not travel to away games, but still fi de top of the ladder clash. of the Surf Coast Shire, AFL want their VFL fi x. Last year’s Grand Finalists the Victoria will trial this regional - Anthony Stanguts Northern Bullants are currently game in Torquay. The teams Communications Offi cer sitting on top of the VFL ladder, will be playing for the inaugural joined on an undefeated run of Surf Coast Trophy as well as the Note: In other Seagulls news, three wins by Port Melbourne. four premiership points, and if Williamstown will play West Adelaide in The two sides are separated the game is successful, both the Quarter-Finals of the Foxtel Cup on Saturday June 4, venue TBA. by 32% in fi rst and second on the Williamstown and Torquay media coverage Round 4, 23rd - 24th April: Saturday, 23rd April ABC TV: Northern Bullants vs Port Melbourne tune into ABC1 from 1pm Sunday, 24th April VFL Radio: Williamstown vs Geelong from 1:30pm www.vfl .com.au or www.bpmmedia.com.au or Aussie Digitial 3WBC: Box Hill Hawks vs Coburg Tigers Listen live on 94.1fm or online at www.3wbc.org.au from 1pm Thursday, 28th April SEN: ‘State of Play’ - the VFL half hour 8:30pm-9pm 4 www.afl vic.com.au ahmed saad Saad converts quickly to Aussie Rules Fast forward fi ve seasons and who fi ts the profi le required by - SNAPSHOT - Ahmed fi nds himself on the AFL clubs – speed, tenacity, Ahmed Saad VFL’s biggest stage – playing desire, determination and Age: 21 for the Bullants against North execution of skills. Club: Northern Bullants Ballarat in the 2010 VFL Grand Saad refl ected that last year Games: 18 Final. whetted his appetite. He loved Goals: 34 Bullants then coach David every second of being able to Teague rewarded Saad for his test himself against AFL Listed ONE of the great stories from consistent form – 23 goals in players and demonstrate that the 2010 season was the fi ve games - in the reserves he was not out of place in the journey taken by Ahmed Saad early in season 2010. It was a competition. to break into the Northern decision he was never to regret. The sting in the tail was that Bullants team. Saad played every game once the Bullants failed to break its Saad, who has an Egyptian he received his call up in late 26-year premiership drought heritage, was a soccer May. Seven times he kicked and North Ballarat’s Uncle convert who didn’t play his fi rst multiple goals, and there was Scrooge-like defence kept Saad Australian Rules game until he much to like about this 180cm goal-less. was 16 - only then to help make livewire forward. “I wouldn’t mind us (the up the numbers. It stretched beyond a feel good Bullants) getting back to the He candidly admitted the game story when several AFL clubs Grand Final and this year was a mystery to him. displayed interest in Saad. winning it,” Saad said. Nothing eventuated, but the “Personally, I just want to have 21-year-old put himself well and a consistent year, play well truly on the AFL radar.