Bendigo Advertiser, Friday, August 6, 2010 25 FFOOTYOOTY FFOCUSOCUS

BFL LVFL HDFL AFL VFL: BOMBERS TAC CUP: www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au It’s not all about winning LUKE WEST fifth in the past four years, but had Of those 49 players, 18 have played just five more players drafted. more than 50 games, while seven HE Bendigo Pioneers are The have – Michael Braun, , no different to any other played in two of the past four grand , , Adam Tfootball club. finals, but have had only seven more Selwood, and 2007 They want to win games, but for players drafted than the Pioneers Rising Star winner the Pioneers, the win-loss ratio at since 2006. – have reached the pinnacle of playing in a premiership. the end of the TAC Cup isn’t the And North has played in be-all and end-all – far from it. the past four finals series, but the In what is their 18th TAC Cup For the Pioneers, they are all Rebels have also had just seven season, in which they have built about the development of young more players drafted than the an overall 120-211-2 record in 333 talent in the region, and giving that Pioneers since 2006. games, the Pioneers are again talent the best opportunity to forge coached by Mark Ellis, who has Sure, Byrne would love to have held the role since 2005. a career in the AFL. had more wins through that time Wins have been few and far and for the young Pioneers players Byrne says Ellis epitomises the between for the Pioneers in recent to have had a chance to experience Pioneers’ philosophy of develop- years – they have won just 17 of 87 TAC Cup finals. ment ahead of success, perhaps at the expense of his own reputation. games since the start of 2006. But if the club is producing AFL Long-time Pioneers regional players, plus those who go on to “He got the TAC Cup coach of manager Ray Byrne doesn’t shy play VFL or return to their local INSTRUCTIONS: Bendigo Pioneers coach Mark Ellis. the year last year; they don’t just away from the fact that tally of wins leagues and have an impact, to be hand that out lightly,’’ Byrne said. is well below those of Bendigo’s honest, Byrne isn’t fazed where the identifying the kids, and what we Golden Square’s 1972 Bendigo “He follows all the criteria that other TAC Cup country rivals, Pioneers finish on the ladder. do is put a bit of polish on them. Football League premiership, he is expected of a TAC Cup coach, Geelong, Gippsland, Murray and “The kids know where they “Yes, we’d love to be winning was recruited to the Blues in 1973. with things such as no flooding or North Ballarat, who have all won at stand with it all, and over the past games of footy, but what goes Byrne went on to play 219 tagging. He will play kids out of least 50 games since 2006. few years, even though we’ve been around comes around. We’ve got games for Carlton, Geelong and position to help them get drafted, But that’s neither here nor there getting beaten, the morale around a really good crop of under-16 kids Collingwood, and was a part of four and that could be the difference for Byrne. the club has been terrific,’’ Byrne coming through.’’ losing grand final teams. between winning and losing. With the Pioneers’ No.1 priority said this week. While the Pioneers may have “I reckon if they had this system “He will look at things like, well, being development, what’s more “Yes, we’ve had a couple of kids their critics, the TAC Cup is now the in when I was just starting out, he can’t play full-forward for us because if he’s going to play league relevant to Byrne is that from the leave because they’ve had pressure pathway into the AFL for Victorian there would have been a lot more footy, it will be as a half-forward or 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 national from their home clubs, but that hopefuls. At last year’s national players go down and have a crack a winger. and rookie drafts, the Pioneers have happens everywhere, and we know , 37 players came via the TAC in the VFL,’’ Byrne said. had 11 players added to AFL lists we’re not the flavour off the month Cup, including Pioneers pair Dustin “These days with this system, the ‘‘Mark does a good job and the during those lean years on-field. everywhere. Martin and Jordan Williams. players are better educated about kids and parents all respect him.’’ That’s not bad, considering the “We know we’re sometimes seen It’s vastly different these days to what league footy is all about.’’ While Byrne doesn’t like to Pioneers have finished 12th, 10th, as taking little Johnny who has when Byrne was a Golden Square Since the Pioneers joined the make excuses for the lack of wins, 11th and 12th in the past four been a superstar at his club since teenager with a dream of playing in TAC Cup in 1993 under coach Tony the Pioneers – who haven’t played years. he was 10, then all of a sudden he’s the VFL in the early ’70s. Southcombe, they have had 49 finals since 2003 – are faced with a number of off-field challenges. In comparison, the Gippsland with us. Coming from Bendigo, Byrne was players selected at either the AFL Power has finished no lower than “But at least the clubs are zoned to Carlton. After playing in national or rookie draft. Continued – Page 32 COMPARING THE TAC CUP COUNTRY CLUBS SINCE 2006 BENDIGO PIONEERS MURRAY BUSHRANGERS NORTH BALLARAT REBELS RECORD: 17-70 RECORD: 65-28 RECORD: 57-38 RECORD: 55-37-1 RECORD: 53-41-1 FINISHING POSITIONS: 12th, 10th, FINISHING POSITIONS: 8th, 5th, FINISHING POSITIONS: 5th, 3rd, FINISHING POSITIONS: 2nd, 1st, FINISHING POSITIONS: 4th, 6th, 11th, 12th. 3rd, 6th. 5th, 3rd. 10th, 9th 7th, 5th. PLAYERS DRAFTED: 11. PLAYERS DRAFTED: 28. PLAYERS DRAFTED: 16. PLAYERS DRAFTED: 18. PLAYERS DRAFTED: 18. 2006: NATIONAL – Joel Selwood 2006: NATIONAL – (Port 2006: NATIONAL – 2006: NATIONAL – 2006: NATIONAL – Nathan Brown (Geelong, No. 7), , 5), Daniel O’Keefe (, (North , 3), Tyson (Collingwood, 8). ROOKIE – Jarrod (Collingwood, 10), James Frawley (Richmond (58), Andrew Collins 15), (West Coast, 50), Goldsack Harbrow (, 27). (Melbourne, (Richmond, 73). ROOKIE – Jarryn (Geelong 57), Ryan (Collingwood, 2007: NATIONAL – Ben McEvoy (St 12), Mitchell Geary (St Kilda, 58). Williams (Port Adelaide, 83). ROOKIE 63). ROOKIE Kilda, 9), (Geelong, Brown (West 202002007:070 : NATIONAL – Peter Hardy (Port Adelaide, 49). – Ben 34). ROOKIE – Daniel Boyle, (Port Coast, 16), – RRobbieob 2007: NATIONAL – Lachlan Hughes Adelaide, 31), Dean Terlich (Sydney, TaTarrantrran (North Henderson (Brisbane, 8), Patrick (North 61). (Carlton, 19), Melbourne,Meelb 15), Dangerfield (Adelaide, 10), Jack Melbourne, 2008: NATIONAL – (North ScottSccott Selwood Steven (St Kilda, 42), Adam Donohue 19), Ben Melbourne, 9), (West Coast, (West(W Coast, (Geelong, 60), Jaxson Barham Mcaffer (Collingwood, 11), Sam Wright (North 43), Matt Tyler 22),22 Toby (Collingwood, 61), Guy O’Keefe (Collingwood, Melbourne, 27), Caleb Tiller (Carlton, (Brisbane, ThoolenTh (Western Bulldogs, 63). ROOKIE – Ed 26), Robert 80). ROOKIE – Jamason Daniels 54). ROOKIE (Collingwood,(Co Curnow (Adelaide, 40), Chris Kangars Eddy (St (Western Bulldogs,ulldoogs, 14) 14),, – None. 47),47)7 , Eljay (Geelong, 46). Kilda, 39). Riley Milne ((Hawthorn,Hawthorn, 2007: SHAUN GRIGG NATIONAL – NATIONAL ConnorsConno (St 2008: 2007: TYSON 16), Andreww BrowneBrowne NATIONAL – – Kilda,Kilda, 770). (Western Bulldogs, 14), GOLDSACK (Richmond, 3939),), Kade (Fremantle, 24), ROOKIEROOOK – None. (Collingwood, 46), Jordan Jones Dan McKenna Klemke (Essendon,sendon, (Melbourne, 53), Matt 2008:200 (West Coast, 52), Ben Bucovaz (Geelong, 50). ROOKIE – Brent 50). Austin (Brisbane, 56). ROOKIE NATIONALN (Fremantle, 56). ROOKIE – Jordie Connelly (Fremantle, 6). 2009: – None. – None. McKenzie (Melbourne, 1), Luke 2008: NATIONAL – Nicholas Heyne NATIONAL 2008: NATIONAL – Nic Suban ROOKIE – Delaney (North Melbourne, 25), Tom (St Kilda, 48), Campbell Heath – Sam Reid (Fremantle, 24), RhysR Healey Simpkin (St Kilda, 29). (Sydney, 61). ROOKIE – Tristan (Sydney, (Western Bulldogs, 31), Tim (Melbourne,(Melbourne, 117). 2009: NATIONAL – Ben Cunnington Francis (Collingwood, 11), Jarryd 38), Braydenn Ruffles (Fremantle, 68), Will Young 2009:2009: NATIONALNATIO (North Melbourne, 5), Blair (Collingwood, 27). Norris (Northh (Adelaide, 72). ROOKIE – Bryn – DustinDustit n Martin (Geelong, 6), (Port 2009: NATIONAL – John Butcher Melbourne, Weadon (Geelong, 31). (Richmond,(Richm 3), Adelaide, 16), Callum Bartlett (Port Adelaide, 8), 53), Taylor 2009: NATIONAL – JordanJorda Williams (Brisbane, 27), Allen Christensen (West Coast, 23), Duryea (Richmond, 35), Matthew Dea (Hawthorn,(Haw (Geelong, 40). ROOKIE – Luke (Geelong, 42). ROOKIE – Mitchell (Hawthorn, 669).9). (Richmond, 44), JOEL 57).57) ROOKIE Thompson (Adelaide, 17), Joe Dare Golby (Brisbane, 16), Jack Weston ROOKIE – Dylanylan JACK (Geelong, 56). ROOKIE – Andrew SELWOOD – None.N (Carlton, 31). (Geelong, 21). McNeil (Sydney,ney, 7575).). ZIEBELL Hooper (Western Bulldogs, 35).