VFL Round 10 11 - 12 June 2016 $3.00 Photo: Bruno Silverii Photo: Cameron Grimes Swisse supports women’s football This weekend will see the continuation of our highly successful Peter Jackson VFL/VFL Women’s double-header clashes, at both Casey Fields and Trevor Barker Beach Oval. The highlight game is the top-of-the-ladder clash between Darebin and Melbourne Uni, with some of the best talent from across the state on show at Casey Fields prior to the Channel 7 clash between the Casey Scorpions and Collingwood. It has been an exciting week for VFL Women’s with AFL Victoria announcing Swisse Wellness as the naming rights partner to the competition for 2016. As part of the new agreement, Swisse has revealed three player ambassadors – Darebin Falcons pair Daisy Pearce and Lauren Arnell, plus Diamond Creek captain Steph Chiocci, with the trio to be involved in an upcoming marketing campaign for the brand. The interest and growth in women’s football has helped us attract a brand like Swisse, which wants to be associated with the high standard of football that is now produced. Swisse has a passion for health and wellbeing, which is something we promote across all our competitions. It is great that Swisse is showing their support for women’s football and we hope it is the start of a long relationship with the brand. The establishment of the VFL Women’s competition this year has helped further develop talent across Melbourne and regional areas, providing the next step in the female talent pathway. Over the last month, 40 VFL Women’s players have represented both Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in AFL Women’s Exhibition games, highlighting the skills and developing talent within our competition. Well done to these players in the way you have represented your clubs and the competition on the field and in the media. We look forward to the final exhibition game in September this year when Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs renew acquaintances in what will be the final game between the two teams before the 2017 AFL National Women’s competition. Steven Reaper AFL Victoria CEO Contents Who’s playing who 3 5 Tim Smith 30 31 Footscray vs Geelong 7 Matthew Eagles 32 33 North Ballarat vs Coburg 8 9 VFL weekly content 34 35 Box Hill Hawks vs Northern Blues 10 Stats Central 36 37 Williamstown vs Frankston 11 VFL Women’s 38 39 Casey Scorpions vs Collingwood 14 15 TAC Cup weekly content 40 41 Sandringham vs Essendon 17 The Big League 42 43 Richmond vs Werribee 19 AFL Vic News 48 Quiz 12 Darebin vs Melbourne Uni Development Weekend 13 Knox vs Seaford 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: Paul Pattison celebrates for the Casey Scorpions Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 during their victory over Port Melbourne in Round 9 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 June 11-12 Saturday 2pm: Casey Scorpions v Collingwood TAC Cup Online Sunday 11.30am: Sandringham v Essendon Website: www.taccup.com.au Download the PLUS7 Live app to stream games live Twitter: @TACCup Watch a replay at: au.tv.yahoo.com/plus7/vfl Facebook: www.facebook.com/taccupfooty Next game: Sat – Werribee v Essendon/ Instagram: @aflvictoria Sun – Geelong v Box Hill Hawks Radio 3WBC Saturday June 11: Box Hill Hawks v Northern Blues from 1pm Listen to 94.1FM, online at www.3wbc.org.au or on the Tune In Radio app on your smart phone. Next week: Geelong v Box Hill Hawks Casey Radio Next game: Frankston v Footscray (Sunday June 19) Listen to 97.7FM in Melbourne, online at www.caseyradio.com.au or on the Tune In Radio app on your smart phone. R A TAC Cup Radio D Next game: Northern Knights v Sandringham Dragons (Sunday June 19) I Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone app or via taccup.com.au O Girls Play Footy Radio Saturday June 11: Darebin v Melbourne Uni from 10.30am VFL Women’s Game of the Week streamed live via GirlsPlayFooty.com - accessible on your mobile or tablet by downloading the ‘Tune in’ App and searching for ‘Girls Play Footy’. Tune in from 2pm. Live at the ground on 89.1 FM. Video Streaming Visit vfl.com.au to watch a full list of VFL and VFL Women’s replays from season 2016. The team returns in July with the following matches: VFL – Saturday July 9: Northern Blues v Geelong VFL Women’s – Sunday July 10: St Kilda v Eastern Devils Watch the action and listen to the call from the VFL Live team. Replays online at vfl.com.au under the MEDIA tab. 02 www.vfl.com.au Scorpion Smith finds his sting The Casey Scorpions lost a bit of their sting over the last two Peter Jackson VFL seasons, but senior coach Justin Plapp’s 2016 team is suddenly sitting on top of the ladder after 10 rounds. The extra attention being paid to the Scorpions is now also shining a light on some of the club’s well-performed VFL-listed players – players Photo: Morgan Hancock such as Tim Smith. www.taccup.com.au 03 At just 25 years of age, Smith is Casey’s oldest VFL- “It’s also about just taking a general interest in what listed player and the club’s only current 50-gamer everyone’s doing around the club. So if guys get following the departures of veterans such as senior selection in the AFL, the Casey guys might former captain Evan Panozza, Mitch Gent and Will send them a message or get in contact with them Petropoulos over the off -season. and congratulate them. We’re just trying to reach He joined the Scorpions in 2012 from Upper Ferntree each other on a more personal level. Gully in the Eastern Football League – where he was “It’s definitely something Justin Plapp’s really part of a senior premiership team as a 19-year-old – worked hard on and all credit to him – he’s done a and promptly played 16 senior games in a year when bloody good job because it’s working really well.” Casey won the minor premiership. The success of the ‘one club’ mentality is now Smith has been with the club from the relative highs shining a light on the good form of players such of 2012 through some leaner years more recently James Munro, Angus Scott and Smith, who said and says its AFL alignment with Melbourne has his football was benefiting from the emergence of never been stronger. several Demons key forwards around him. “That alignment is really a key to our success I 192cm Smith spent much of his previous four reckon,” Smith said. “The systems put in place to seasons at Casey as a tall forward target – kicking 56 have a real ‘one club’ mentality between Casey and goals in 52 games – but with Melbourne key-position Melbourne have advanced tenfold since 2012. draft ees Sam Weideman and Liam Hulett as well as “The guys at Melbourne are obviously invested and a fit-again Chris Dawes drawing the ball, his on-field they want to succeed, and the guys at Casey are well role has changed. experienced and want to win. Everyone wants to get He’s now playing smaller than previously, as part of to the same goal. the VFL’s top-ranked forward line for goals and score Photo: Morgan Hancock 04 www.vfl.com.au Tim Smith (right) representing the VFL against the SANFL two weeks ago assists per game, and the third-ranked team for “It’s all about a team mentality and trying to work goals scored per entry inside 50. With 11 goals from side by side with each other on and off the ground. seven games, Smith might just be playing the best That definitely makes it easier come game day to be football of his career. able to perform to a high level.” “I’d say I am, yeah,” he said. Smith’s high-level performances saw him selected “The biggest thing with VFL football is if you’re in the VFL team that lost to the SANFL by 19 points in not consistent, there’s always pressure from guys the state game two weeks ago. He thinks he “didn’t playing in the Development League – especially at do too bad” testing himself against the best, which an aligned club. In past years my consistency has is testament to how he’s flourished over his VFL probably been up and down, whereas this year I’m journey. able to play consistent footy week in week out. “I was always just thereabouts in junior footy; I “Our forward line is quite tall and you can’t have five wasn’t a stand-out,” Smith said. blokes jumping at the footy every game, so I’ve got a spot in there somewhere and maybe staying on “I tried out for the TAC Cup but I’d just started my the ground and putting on some tackle pressure is plumbing apprenticeship and working full-time. I more my go. just wasn’t committed to training or playing three “I’d like to think I’m playing my role in the team and nights a week at 17/18 years old so I went and played that’s contributing to us winning.” local footy at Upper Ferntree Gully.