Community Umpiring Round VFL Round 6 TAC Cup Round 7 13 - 15 May 2016 $3.00 Photo: Brian Bartlett Umpire recognition as important as ever Football leagues around Victoria will celebrate Community Umpiring Round this weekend. Respect and appreciation for umpires should not just be recognised one round per season, but should be done every week. They do a great job controlling a game where the skill and speed continually increases, as do the demands on umpires. Just like footballers, umpires are dedicated athletes whose preparation and passion for the game is unwavering. And, just like footballers, AFL Victoria strives to provide a clearly defined pathway for umpires to progress their participation to the highest level. Since 2013 there has been 15 umpires promoted to the AFL – five field, six boundary and four goal umpires. That means that of the 32 AFL field umpires, 19 are Victorian (60 per cent), while close to 50 per cent of the 101 umpires on the 2016 AFL lists are also from our state. This is a great reflection of the hard work of our umpiring department, led by State league Umpiring Head Coach Cameron Nash. As Cameron speaks about in this edition of the Record, a key focus over the last 18 months has been bridging the gap between community and state league umpiring. The introduction of rookie squads has enabled promising local umpires to experience what it takes to reach the next level, exposed to the training standards and preparation needed to take the next step in their umpiring career. Another positive aspect is the increase in our female umpiring numbers, with seven female umpires (three field, one boundary, three goal) now part of our squad. It was pleasing last Sunday to watch the Channel 7 Peter Jackson VFL game and see Eleni Glouft sis off iciating in the field along with Kate Griff iths in goals – a sight that will hopefully become more familiar not only in the VFL but in the AFL in the future. Steven Reaper AFL Victoria CEO Contents 3 5 Kade Answerth 16 17 TAC Cup weeklyweekly contentcontent 6 7 Community umpiring 19 Stats Centrall 8 9 VFL weekly content 21 The Big Leaguegue 11 VFL Women’s 23 AFL Vic News 12 14 VFL Women’s team lists 64 Quiz Who’s playing who 36 37 Geelong vs Collingwood 54 55 Geelong vs Calder 38 39 Port Melbourne vs Footscray 56 57 Northern vs North Ballarat 40 41 Sandringham vs Casey Scorpions 58 59 Murray vs Dandenong 42 43 Williamstown vs Northern Blues 60 61 Eastern vs Gippsland 44 45 Richmond vs North Ballarat 62 63 Western vs Bendigo 46 47 Werribee vs Box Hill Hawks 48 49 Coburg vs Essendon Editor: Ben Pollard [email protected] Contributors: Anthony Stanguts, Kirstie Fitzgerald Design & Print: Cyan Press Photos: AFL Photos (unless otherwise credited) Advertising: Rosanna Butler (03) 8341 6021 Ikon Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Cover: Celebrating Community Umpiring Round Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 www.aflvic.com.au www.taccup.com.au 01 Television Online VFL Online Website: www.vfl.com.au Twitter: @VFL #PJVFL Facebook: www.facebook.com/vflfooty Sunday May 15: 11.30am TAC Cup Online Werribee v Box Hill Hawks Website: www.taccup.com.au Next week: Frankston v Geelong Twitter: @TACCup Facebook: www.facebook.com/taccupfooty Download the PLUS7 Live app to stream games live Watch a replay at: au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/vfl Instagram: @aflvictoria or on 7Mate at 1am Tuesday morning Radio L VFL Live I Saturday May 14: Geelong v Collingwood from 12.45pm V Live on Aussie digital, Red Time Sport iPhone and Android apps, plus E online via vfl.com.au R TAC Cup Radio A D Sunday May 15: Western Jets v Bendigo Pioneers from 11.45am I Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au O Next game: Gippsland Power v Northern Knights (May 29) 3WBC Sunday May 15: Werribee v Box Hill Hawks from 10.30am Listen to 94.1FM, online at www.3wbc.org.au or the Tune In Radio app. Next week: Casey Scorpions v Box Hill Hawks Casey Radio Next game: Sunday May 22 – Sandringham v Werribee (Round 7) Tune to 97.7fm in Melbourne, via the web at www.caseyradio.com.au, or on the Tune In Radio app on your smart phone. Video Streaming Visit vfl.com.au on Saturday May 14 for a VFL double header: VFL – Geelong v Collingwood from 1pm VFL Women’s – Geelong v Knox from 3.45pm Watch the action and listen to the call from the VFL Live team. 02 www.vfl.com.au Kade out to prove his worth Only a fraction of TAC Cup players in any given year are selected at the NAB AFL Draft, leaving many disappointed and looking for the best way to give themselves another shot at making the big league. Sandringham Zebras 19-year-old Kade Answerth is one such player. Photo: Dave Savell www.taccup.com.au 03 Some unsuccessful draft aspirants are invited quite hurt as much as it did in 2014. I would’ve back to their TAC Cup clubs as over-age players; been disappointed if I could’ve done something some progress to the Peter Jackson VFL to develop diff erently or more consistently throughout the themselves against senior opposition. year.” Aft er disappointment on draft night the last Answerth averaged 24 disposals and almost six two years, Answerth has now experienced both tackles per game across 14 TAC Cup matches in scenarios. 2015, including 30 disposals, 10 clearances and In 2014, his top-age season in the TAC Cup, Answerth seven tackles in Oakleigh’s premiership victory. He was the joint-winner of the Oakleigh Chargers’ best also impressed by averaging 14 disposals per game and fairest award in a premiership year. He hoped in his three VFL matches with the Borough. for draft success but didn’t expect too much. There Despite doing everything in his power and not being were question marks on his size (he’s now 183cm), rewarded with selection on an AFL list last year, his speed and his disposal, and he wasn’t selected. Answerth is still holding out hope of graduating to Last year in his over-age season at Oakleigh, the elite level. Answerth won the club’s best and fairest award The reason is that he believes the environment outright, again in a premiership year. He also won at Sandringham has the potential to develop his the medal for best-on-ground in the Grand Final football even further. Answerth played the first three victory. Further, he experienced senior VFL football matches of 2016 as the senior team’s 23rd player by playing three games for Port Melbourne. Still, it – averaging 19 disposals per game and kicking wasn’t enough for AFL recruiters. four goals – and then starred in a big victory over “Last year I had more hope than the year before,” Collingwood last weekend with 29 disposals, 10 Answerth said. “I didn’t leave any stone unturned (in marks, 11 tackles, five clearances and a goal as part 2015); I did everything in my power. of the starting 22. “Missing out was obviously disappointing but I did His decision to settle at Trevor Barker Beach Oval everything I could, so not getting picked up didn’t now looks a good one. Photo: Dave Savell 04 www.vfl.com.au Kade Answerth looks to dispose of the ball in the 2015 TAC Cup Grand Final “It was pretty diff icult to make up my mind because of his game that recruiters may have seen as a a lot of Oakleigh boys went to Port Melbourne and deficiency. I was good mates with them,” Answerth said. “But “I think hitting the scoreboard a bit more, being in the end, I found Sandy was a better fit for me to better my footy. more dangerous as a smaller forward and showing I can play that role is something I could improve on,” “I sat down and had coff ee with (senior coach) Paul Hudson, and he was really welcoming and had a Answerth said. clear direction for the club. “Getting to more contests and getting to the feet of “I probably went more towards the alignment with big guys would really help, and so far I’ve done that St Kilda. There’s a bit more of a challenge to get this year.” into the seniors, and a lot of people look at that as In addition to addressing his ability to hit the a negative, but you’re training with and potentially scoreboard, Answerth is particularly focused on playing with guys on an AFL list. That’s going to better your footy. turning around opinions on his kicking ability, and third-year Zebras teammate Elliot Le Grice has been “It seemed like a good fit at the time and it’s turned instrumental in helping him along that path. out to be a decision I’ve really looked back on as a good one.” “We’ve been kicking a lot together,” Answerth said. Answerth has connections with two AFL-listed “Elliot prides himself on his disposal from the back Saints through Oakleigh’s 2014 premiership team in line and my kicking needs a bit of work, so getting to good mates Daniel McKenzie and Jack Sinclair. training early and having a kick with him has been He said the pair “have definitely come a long way” really good.