TAC CUP ROUND 6 MAY 4-5, 2013 $3.00 UUmpiringmpiring iiss EEveryone’sveryone’s BBusinessusiness Give exit fees the boot. And lock-in contracts the hip and shoulder. AlintaAlinta EnerEnergy’sgy’s Fair GGoo 1155 • NoNo lock-inlock-in contractscontracts • No exitexit fees • 15%15% off your electricity usageusage* forfor as lonlongg as you continue to be on this planplan 18001800 46 2525 4646 alintaenergy.com.aualintaenergy.com.au *15% off your electricity usage based on Alinta Energy’s published Standing Tariffs for Victoria. Terms and conditionsconditions apply.apply. NNotot avaavailableilable wwithith sosolar.lar. NNorthernorthern KKnightsnights 113.15.933.15.93 d BBendigoendigo PPioneersioneers 110.12.720.12.72 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL Recognising umpiring FOOTBALL leagues around the State will celebrate ‘Umpiring Is Everyone’s Business’ this weekend. And, taken literally, it is the business of everyone Already this year we’ve seen involved in the game. Umpires are intrinsic to our great fi eld umpire Tristian Burgess game: no umpires, no game. rewarded for his high standard of umpiring at the VFL level by Umpires deserve our recognition, respect and his elevation to the AFL umpire panel. appreciation every week. They do a wonderful job controlling a game where the skill and speed continually AFL Victoria’s umpiring program, with the support of increase as do the demands on umpires. the network of community Leagues around Victoria, is the biggest provider of umpires to the AFL. About 75 Just like footballers, umpires are dedicated athletes per cent of those on the AFL umpires list come from whose preparation and passion for the game is Victoria, gaining fi nal selection by progressing from the unwavering. Peter Jackson VFL – many having spent time in the TAC And, just like footballers, AFL Victoria strives to provide Cup as well. a clearly defi ned pathway for umpires to progress their It doesn’t come without much hard work from all those participation to the highest level. like AFL Victoria State League Umpiring Manager Kevin Mitchell and all his staff. More and more young people are being attracted to umpiring with the average age for fi eld and boundary umpires in both the AFL Victoria Development and Senior squads all under 25. Such a spike in numbers of young people wishing to pursue a career of umpiring can be linked to a commitment, beginning at community level, of creating a positive, inclusive and welcoming environment. That’s important because, as the theme intimates, umpiring is everyone’s business. Grant Williams AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Dave O’Neill, Gabe Sorrentino, Joel Dwyer 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: Field Umpire Daniel Cumming, Goal Umpire Luke Bush Talent Operations Coordinator: Sophie Timms and Boundary Umpire Mitch Smith. Talent Operations Offi cer: 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 1:45pm for the TAC Cup Radio match of the week. Join Phil Crooks, Rick Morris and Gabe Sorrentino as they bring you a weekly TAC Cup match throughout the season. Saturday May 4 – Dandenong vs Murray Bushrangers 1:45pm Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game: Saturday May 18: Northern Knights vs North Ballarat Rebels, 12:45pm TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars will return to Channel 9 on Sunday May 12. Join Craig Hutchinson and the team as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Returns: Sunday May 12, 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 #taccup www.facebook.com/taccupfooty 2 www.afl vic.com.au VIC COUNTRY Vic Country prepares for Championships VIC Metro may have got a head start with its logistic ability to train more frequently in preparation for the start of this year’s NAB AFL Under 18 Championships, but that’s not concerning Vic Country coach Mark Ellis. While Ellis acknowledges that Vic Country may not be as He noted that one recruiting offi cer may see something in far advanced as Vic Metro with its squad training sessions, a player that his club requires and that could prove telling he’s not dwelling on it. when it comes to the AFL Draft. Several things give Ellis great heart, not the least the “It’s a big thing for them, but at the same time it is exciting resilience of the country players. for them as well,” Ellis said. From his time as Bendigo Pioneers, Ellis knows the Ellis is also impressed at the quality of 19-year-olds - each commitment country players have to overcome seeming team is allowed to play a maximum of two per match. disadvantages, especially the travel factor. It hasn’t held Included in that group is Josh Scott, who has kicked 21 them back in the past and he can see no reason why it will goals in his four games for Gippsland. Ellis said Scott was this year. played in defence in the intra-squad match. What gives Ellis great heart is the form displayed in the “It’s good exposure for him. All those boys (19-year-olds) early rounds of the TAC Cup by country clubs Geelong have a really good opportunity to show what they’ve got,” Falcons, Murray Bushrangers, Gippsland Power and he said. Dandenong Stingrays. “The Country kids and staff do a great job in terms of the “The representation from all the clubs has been really travelling they do. good,” Ellis said. “From a country perspective that’s why we have to get “We think we’re going to have an exciting squad. They them and bring them together as quick as we can. were all certainly keen and excited when we got together “These boys know that if they want to get to the highest for the intra-squad match. level they have to do some kilometres. Travelling is second “The task is to bring them together pretty quick. It’s a good nature to them, they just turn up go about their business.” time for everyone to be involved.” Former Bendigo Pioneer He’s also pleased that several quality players, including Ollie Wines in action for Billy Hartung, James Tsitas, Lewis Taylor, Clay McCartney Vic Country in 2012 and Ben Kearns – who experienced the Championships last season – are returning. Vic Country played an intra-squad match, involving about 60 players, at Visy Park on April 21 ahead of next week’s Trial match against Vic Metro. “It was a reward for the guys that played well in the early TAC Cup games and we’ve monitored those boys over the past couple of weeks,” Ellis said. “We’ll see how the boys go against Vic Metro and then we’ll work out our squad.” Last year Vic Country played 38 players during the course of the Championships and he envisages similar numbers would be utilized again this year. Elli said the message spread to all Country players is that every time they represent the State it is as if “they’re on a job interview.” www.taccup.com.au 3 $75 CASH BACK Buy a selected, specially marked Bailey Fibreglass Ladder between 11th February 2013 and 30th June 2013 and receive $75 cash back*. Complete and return the official claim form, along with your original tax receipt, by the closing date to receive your cash. *Refer to the official claim form for details or go to www.baileyladders.com.au/cashbackpromotion. Offer ends midnight 30th June 2013. All Cashback claims to be received by the 31st July 2013 to be valid. baileyladders.com.au 4 www.afl vic.com.au MATTHEW MERLO Merlo improving each week MATTHEW Merlo doesn’t mask the fact that he’s disappointed that he didn’t make the Vic Metro squad. Merlo said missing the season opener and “peaking” a He said the Monash University student now needs to work little too late saw selectors overlook him. on getting more of the outside football to impress AFL “It was very disappointing, I was hoping to make it over recruiters that he’s not a one dimensional player. pre-season, but I’ll just try to play as well as I can for the “At the moment he is our fi rst choice at extracting the rest of the season,” Merlo said. football. He’s distinctly strong over the ball and he’s very Merlo was restricted by a niggling knee injury that kept good by hand and foot,” Jago said. him from playing the fi rst round of the season, and, “He’s very diligent, a very hard worker.” unfortunately that has been a recurring theme. As part of the club’s rotating policy, Merlo has captained “I’ve had a few injuries in the past couple of years and the club the past two weeks. that’s held me back,” Merlo said.