Mitchell Banner Thrives in Championships

U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS JACK ZIEBELL MITCHELL BANNER

ROUND 13 JULY 19-20, 2008 $ INC 3 GST RECORD

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TAC CUP RECORD 2

TAC 6778 Press_LPlate 228mmx170m4 4 6/3/08 9:33:11 AM EDITORIAL

Conversely, Vic Metro Victoria back was able to bond as they continued to train together, with their growing camaraderie where it belongs undoubtedly helping them play quality football. Metro’s magnifi cent Championships win Both Victorian teams benefi ted from the Championships’ revamped format, which allowed With another memorable It was particularly fi tting more of their players to play in NAB AFL Under-18 Vic Metro clinched the more games and to showcase Championships locked in Championships crown in their talent on a national stage. the vault, Victoria can refl ect Dickson’s last campaign as coach. For some players the proudly on many fronts. ‘Dicko’ has built one of the Championships may be as high as After Western Australia’s most imposing coaching records their football takes them, while for dominance last year, it was in the Championships’ history. others it will be a stepping-stone particularly pleasing Victoria During his 12-year tenure, Vic to a fulfi lling career. reclaimed the title of No. 1 state. Metro won eight titles, while he Whatever category players fall Congratulations to Vic Metro, also helped develop some of the into, all those who pulled on a which conclusively proved biggest stars in the AFL today. Victorian jumper will long cherish itself the best team at the He has done a superb job the experience. Championships, going through all and, from someone who coached After having last weekend off, its fi ve matches undefeated. against him for 10 years, he can representative players, excluding After its narrow escape walk away with immense pride. those with private school against Vic Country in the While it won only two matches, commitments, will return to their Championships opener, Vic Metro Vic Country can take solace respective TAC Cup clubs. comprehensively defeated every from the fact Vic Metro defeated With the fi nals fast challenger it met. it only after a goal on the siren, approaching, these players will Congratulations to Vic Metro while it also overcame the longest shoulder the responsibility of coach David Dickson, his match road trip of the carnival to defeat helping their club fi nish as high committee and support staff. Western Australia. as possible. To go through an Under-18 Frustratingly, Vic Country was Championships undefeated is a unable to sustain such form in Leon Harris remarkable achievement and one every match, with breaks in the High Performance Manager, all in the team should be proud of. schedule disrupting the team. AFL Victoria

U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS JACK ZIEBELL MITCHELL BANNER AFL Victoria Chief Executive Officer: $ ROUND 13 ROUND 13 JULY 19-20, 2008 3 Peter Schwab CONTENTS JULY 19-20, 2008 Football Operations Manager: RECORD John Hook Under-18 Championships 4-5 COVER: Vic Metro last High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Jack Ziebell 6 week won its sixth Under-18 Statistics: Sophie Timms Championships in the past Manager Director, Geoff Slattery Publishing: Round 12 statistics 7 Geoff Slattery eight years, going through the Editor: Nick Bowen Club notes 8-9 carnival undefeated. Designer: Karl Chandler Mitchell Banner 23 IS FOR Photo Manager: Natalie Boccassini VICTORY Photography: Getty Images (02) 9004 2250 Address correspondence: VMighty Metro clinch CChampionshipshampionships Advertising: Jennifer Pryor (03) 8663 3007 The Editor, GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, 3001. Printed by: Condor Printing Phone: (03) 8663 3005

TAC CUP RECORD 3 U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Mitchell Banner and Jack Watts (front centre) embrace after Vic Metro’s victory over Western Australia last Wednesday.

Thanks to the midfi eld dominance of Mitchell Banner, Metro Magic ruckman Tyrone Vickery, wingmen David Zaharakis and Sam Blease, utility Rory Sloane Vic Metro takes out Under-18 Championships and Watts in attack, Metro was always in command. Victoria regained its title as After opening the Dickson said the narrow the pre-eminent junior football Championships with a three-point escape against Country state when Vic Metro went win against Vic Country, thanks to propelled Metro to its through the NAB AFL Under-18 the heroics of subsequent Larke Championships success. Championships undefeated. medallist Jack Watts, Metro grew “After that fi rst match we In coach David Dickson’s in stature. did a lot of work on our fi nal game of a 12-year reign that Subsequently, Metro toppled defi ciencies. In every game we produced eight Championships Tasmania by 67 points, South had a belief that we needed to crowns, Metro clinched the title Australia by 53 points and NSW/ improve in some form and to with a decisive 29-point win ACT by 51 points to set up a the boys’ credit they worked on against Western Australia. showdown with Western Australia. rectifying it,” Dickson said.

4 visit: www.taccup.com.au U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS

“I think we peaked at the right Luke Stanton and Luke time. Our intensity and pressure Shuey bask in the glory of Vic Metro’s Under-18 at Western Australia right from the Championships success. start was great and we never took our foot off the pedal.” Dickson praised the efforts of Vickery, who he said more than matched it with WA glamour player Nicholas Naitanui. He also likened Zaharakis’ style of play to St Kilda star Leigh Montagna and said Watts’ potential was “enormous”. He said Michael Hurley, Metro’s Most Valuable Player, had the poise, balance and toughness to become an AFL player. embarrassing performance Hyde said Suban had Meanwhile, Vic Country against NSW/ACT. developed as a leader, Jack ended an up-and-down carnival Hyde said Country’s focus and Ziebell was as a class act, Tom in brilliant style with a 98-point intensity had waned during breaks Rockliff had “some magic” demolition of Tasmania – its in the championships. qualities and Steele Sidebottom second win for the carnival. “I think what hurts us is that had been consistent. Coach Robert Hyde said in between our games there was And Andrew Hooper, Country’s Country could have won four a two-three week break and we MVP, was “just fantastic”. matches, but for its after-the- didn’t get together as a group to “Everyone says he’s too small, but siren defeat by Metro and an train and work,” Hyde said. he’s a real goer,” Hyde said.

Vic Country coach Rob Hyde lays down the law in a break during his side’s 98-point rout of Tasmania.

TAC CUP RECORD 5 JACK ZIEBELL

“We were very switched on and Country life we wanted to show what we could do. We tackled and we chased and harassed and put a lot of all frustration pressure on, which caused them to fumble and make mistakes. Ziebell laments carnival ups and downs “But against South Australia we might have got ahead of ourselves and thought that Jack Ziebell has many qualities because we defeated Western but high among them is his Australia we would just turn up ability to be brutally honest. and beat South Australia.” Ziebell, like all his teammates, As for his own performance in was extremely frustrated by the the championships, Ziebell, who roller-coaster ride Vic Country missed the match against Metro endured during the NAB AFL with an adductor injury, gave Under-18 Championships. himself about six out of 10. A heart-breaking on-the- Ziebell says the Championships siren loss to Vic Metro exposed several defi ciencies in his was followed by, what own game that he plans to work Ziebell said, was an on with the Murray Bushrangers “embarrassing” loss during the remainder of the TAC to NSW/ACT. Cup season. He says his pace, Stung by such fi tness and disposals under an unacceptable pressure require work. performance, “When you step up to the Ziebell said Vic Country pulled national level there is a step up in themselves together for the every component of the game,” toughest road trip of the carnival, Ziebell says. travelling to Perth and defeating “The speed is a bit quicker, Western Australia. the skills a bit better. It’s a bit Ziebell says Vic Country then tougher, a bit harder, it’s one fell into bad habits and suffered step ahead of the TAC Cup in dearly in its match against every area.” South Australia but, again, With the Championships rebounded with a 98-point behind him, Ziebell says the victory against Tasmania. experience has left him with a “You would think that we would burning desire to push himself to be able to get up for every game, accomplish as much as he can especially state matches, but we with the Bushrangers. Jack Ziebell couldn’t do it,” Ziebell says. “I just want to go back to the was a solid “We all went into the WA match Bushrangers, try to play consistent performer for Vic with the mindset of giving it 100 football, work on the areas I need Country in NAB AFL Under-18 per cent and following what the to and fi nish off the season as Championships. coach said. strongly as I can.”

6 visit: www.taccup.com.au STATISTICS statistics

ROUND 12 North Ballarat Rebels 0.0 0.2 0.2 1.4 (10) Gippsland Power 3.5 6.7 12.11 13.12 (90) TAC CUP LADDER P W L D F A % PTS GOALS: North Ballarat Rebels - Linke. Murray Bushrangers 12 10 2 0 1291 849 152.06 40 Gippsland Power - Lehman 3, Cole 2, Hoghton 2, Stevens, Francis, Northe, Stockdale, Geelong Falcons 12 8 4 0 1279 959 133.37 32 Donchi, Johnston. Oakleigh Chargers 12 8 4 0 1147 905 126.74 32 BEST: North Ballarat Rebels - Hayes, Weadon, Tate, Knott, Cowan, Garvey. Gippsland Power - Nash, Lehman, Stockdale, Donchi, Ryan, Nickless. North Ballarat Rebels 12 8 4 0 1038 937 110.78 32

Eastern Ranges 12 8 4 0 1063 1021 104.11 32 Oakleigh Chargers 3.0 3.4 9.5 13.6 (84) Western Jets 12 8 4 0 1032 1045 98.76 32 Western Jets 1.3 2.9 4.9 8.9 (57)

Gippsland Power 12 7 5 0 1115 840 132.74 28 GOALS: Oakleigh Chargers - Hoegel 3, Croft 2, Burstin 2, Jones 2, O’Sullivan, Clarke, Scipione, Andrews. Dandenong Stingrays 12 7 5 0 1172 1075 109.02 28 Western Jets - Lunardi 3, Carroll 2, Post, Graham, Lawson.

Sandringham Dragons 12 4 8 0 960 1223 78.50 16 BEST: Oakleigh Chargers - O’Sullivan, Hannebery, Hoegel, Burstin, Thompson, Croft. Western Jets - Tighe, Kennedy, Robbins, Notman, Post, Lunardi. Northern Knights 12 3 9 0 963 1089 88.43 12

Bendigo Pioneers 12 2 10 0 939 1227 76.53 8 Murray Bushrangers 2.4 5.8 9.8 14.9 (93) Eastern Ranges 0.3 3.3 4.10 6.11 (47) Calder Cannons 12 2 10 0 863 1168 73.89 8 GOALS: Murray Bushrangers - Mangan 4, B. Hicks 3, Wright 2, Craven 2, Priest, Ryan, GOALKICKERS (PROGRESSIVE) KICKS ROUND 12 Lewis. Eastern Ranges - Griffiths 2, Shiels, Moore, Dyson, Renton. Jayden Hoegel Oakleigh 26 (3) Michael Stockdale Gippsland 28 BEST: Murray Bushrangers - Priest, Boshevski, Mangan, Johnson, Wright, Hamilton. Sam Wright Murray 25 (2) Matthew Suckling Sandringham 24 Eastern Ranges - Kitchin, Renton, Dyson, Moore, Brown, Crowle. Grant Lofthouse Eastern 24 (-) Kyle Martin Sandringham 21 Patrick Dangerfield Geelong 24 (-) Ryan Gillingham Bendigo 20 Dandenong Stingrays 3.4 5.13 8.15 13.19 (97) Russell Lehman Gippsland 20 Northern Knights 4.0 7.3 8.7 10.9 (69) Michael Still Northern 23 (1) Lee Coghlan Bendigo 19 Tom Rockliff Murray 21 (-) GOALS: Dandenong Stingrays - Purves 3, Hayes 2, Cottrell, Heddles, Millard, Mitchell, Rhys Healey Bendigo 19 Ferraro, Andrews, Hunter, Savage. Jack Fitzpatrick Western 21 (-) Tristan Francis Gippsland 19 Northern Knights - Gasparini 3, Dornauf 2, Walsh 2, Quinton, Grgic, Still. Josh Gaylor Bendigo 19 (-) Farran Priest Murray 19 BEST: Dandenong Stingrays - Purves, Millard, Doria, Heddles, Casboult, Cottrell. Aaron Purves Dandenong 19 (3) Bryn Weadon North Ballarat 19 Northern Knights - Paynter, Boyden, Brunelli, Griffiths, Simcoe, Woods. Tim Ruffles North Ballarat 19 (-) Jordan Robbins Western 18 Serhat Temel Calder 18 (2) Justin Morris Western 18 Bendigo Pioneers 4.3 6.7 9.10 10.12 (72) John Butcher Gippsland 18 (-) Andrew Richardson Bendigo 17 Sandringham Dragons 3.2 6.7 7.7 8.14 (62) Bryce Carroll Western 18 (2) Serhat Temel Calder 17 GOALS: Bendigo Pioneers - Filo 4, Coghlan, Irwin-Hill, Massina, Healey, Petrie, Gilmore. Caleb Tiller Murray 17 (-) James Hussey Geelong 17 Sandringham Dragons - Bull 3, Liston 2, Hale, Ambrose, Gilchrist. Ryan McKenzie North Ballarat 17 (-) Mitchell Golby Gippsland 17 BEST: Bendigo Pioneers - K. Geary, Gillingham, Irwin-Hill, Petrie, Lockwood, Healey. Sandringham Dragons - Muller, Gilchrist, Bull, Hale, Kennedy, North. MARKS ROUND 12 HANDBALLS ROUND 12 Calder Cannons 3.1 5.3 7.4 7.7 (49) Rhys Boyden Northern 12 Michael Thompson Oakleigh 17 Geelong Falcons 4.4 7.7 12.11 16.14 (110)

Darren Haby Western 12 Farran Priest Murray 15 GOALS: Calder Cannons - Dove 3, Temel 2, Bisetto 2. Andrew Richardson Bendigo 10 Josh Free North Ballarat 15 Geelong Falcons - Bright 2, Dobson 2, Hussey 2, Rock 2, Thompson 2, Denton, Leersen, Taylor Gilchrist Sandringham 10 James Cottrell Dandenong 14 McMillan-Pittard, McKenzie, Gavin, Hunt. Matthew Suckling Sandringham 10 Elliott Massina Bendigo 14 BEST: Calder Cannons - Joyce, Tydell, Duhau, Woodburn, Garvey-Hawke, Dove. Geelong Falcons - Gavin, Lynch, Bartlett, Sutcliffe, McMillan-Pittard, Robertson. Jayden Post Western 10 Jayden Cass Eastern 14 Aaron Purves Dandenong 9 Luke Edwards Oakleigh 14 Ryan Gillingham Bendigo 8 Joshua Muling Oakleigh 13 COACHES’ AWARD 2008 Torin Petrie Bendigo 8 Tim Northe Gippsland 13 ROUND 12 5-VOTE WINNERS

Adam Short Calder 8 Brent Wallace Northern 13 NORTH BALLARAT v GIPPSLAND DANDENONG v NORTHERN Serhat Temel Calder 8 Matthew Notman Western 13 5 • Jake Nash • Gippsland 5 • Andrew Purves • Dandenong OAKLEIGH v WESTERN BENDIGO v SANDRINGHAM James Hussey Geelong 8 Daniel Bisetto Calder 13 5 • Sam O’Sullivan • Oakleigh 5 • Kallan Geary • Bendigo Russell Lehman Gippsland 8 Andrew Duhau Calder 13 MURRAY v EASTERN CALDER v GEELONG Brad Mangan Murray 8 David Donchi Gippsland 13 5 • Farran Priest • Murray 5 • Dean Gavin • Geelong Michael Brunelli Northern 8 Adam Woodhams Northern 13 5-4-3-2-1 votes awarded per game, with full match voting and votes tally announced at the end of the season.

TAC CUP RECORD 7 CLUB NOTES

have a wealth of experience in TAC Cup club notes all areas of building and all its sites are managed by dedicated Watch out for TAC Cup Talk each week on Ford’s theoval.com.au. supervisors. Its self-sufﬁ cient The show features all the latest TAC Cup news, with hosts Dwayne operation, which uses company- Russell and Nigel Carmody previewing the coming matches. owned excavation machinery and solid infrastructure and processes, Dandenong Stingrays Liberatore, Luke Mitchell, Matthew makes Relux Slabs the No. 1 The Stingrays would like Watson and Josh Toy. Good luck choice in slab construction. to welcome and thank to Andrew Johnson (coach) and Phone 9509 9533. the following companies who all the Cannons boys involved in have become player sponsors the under-16 carnival. Bendigo for season 2008: Shane Savage Sponsor of the Week: Relux Pioneers - A & D Building, 3 Lorraine Slabs is Victoria’s leading The Pioneers St, Dandenong 3175, contact: specialist in the construction of would like to congratulate the Constantin Blica on wafﬂ e pod slabs. Relux Slabs following players who have 0407 429 882; Corey Millard - operate all over Victoria, its staff represented their state teams Hilton Plastic Laminating Co Pty Ltd, 26 Stephen Rd, Dandenong Calder’s Dylan Joyce boots the Cannons 3175, contact: John Peck on into attack against 8792 8777 or 8792 8711 (fax); Geelong last round. Joel Miller - Harvey World Travel Frankston and Dandenong, contact: Bill Forrester on 5998 8237 or 5998 8445 (fax). We hope your involvement with the Stingrays players is enjoyable and the club thanks you for your support.

Calder Cannons Want to be a Cannons sponsor or player sponsor? Phone Martin today for details 9350 7112. Congratulations to Dylan Joyce, Shaun McKernan and Jackson Trengove on their involvement in the Vic Metro NAB AFL Under-18 Championships win. All three players did the club proud. Congratulations are extended to our six players selected in the Vic Metro Under-16 team – Dion Prestia, Taylor Hine, Tom

8 visit: www.taccup.com.au CLUB NOTES

over the last few weeks: Jake being part of the successful Vic who were co-captains of Hall (Vic Country), Shane Page Metro team that won the NAB the winning side. And, in an (Vic Country), Julian Lockwood AFL Under-18 Championships. added bonus, Michael was (Vic Country), Josh Gaylor (Vic Best of luck also to Dylan named the Most Valuable Country) and Jordan Williams Conway, Trent McKenzie, Josh Player for Vic Metro. (NSW/ACT). Well done guys! Huxtable and Dean Notman, We acknowledge and thank who have been selected in the our main sponsors – JLG Western Jets ﬁ nal Vic Metro squad to compete Industries (Andrew Satterley), Just a reminder the in the NAB AFL Under-16 Dyson Group of Companies Williamstown and Championships in Brisbane. (Shane Dyson) and TigerTurf Western Jets football clubs are (Chris Simpson) – for their conducting their annual auction Northern Knights generosity and ongoing support on Saturday, July 26. It’s being The Knights of the Northern Knights and held at The Yarraville Club, 135 congratulate Michael all talented young footballers Stephen St, Yarraville, at a cost Hurley, Luke Stanton and David in the northern metropolitan of $35 per head. For all enquires Zaharakis on their efforts with region of Victoria. please contact the club or Shane Vic Metro’s victorious side in We also acknowledge all Sexton on 9390 0611. the 2008 NAB AFL Under-18 2008 club and player sponsors Congratulations to Mitchell Championships. We further and thank them for their generous Banner and Jack Fitzpatrick on congratulate Michael and David support over the season.

TAC CUP RECORD 9 JACK ZIEBELL

6 visit: www.taccup.com.au MITCHELL BANNER

Metro’s Banner boy Mitchell Banner thrives in Championships

Coach David Dickson didn’t the opening match of the mince his words when he Championships on the siren. spoke to Mitchell Banner Banner says the experience of as Vic Metro began its that match against Vic Country campaign for the NAB AFL helped the players understand Under-18 Championships. each other better. Dickson told Banner in no “We just really clicked after that uncertain terms that he was not fi rst match,” he says. “We began happy with his ball-winning ability to realise how each other played. or his work-rate and, bluntly, put it Everyone really got on well.” to him he had become lazy. Banner says the Championships It was a stinging appraisal, but are a learning experience in so Dickson’s message got through to many ways, with players able to Banner immediately. analyse their own games against “I was tough on him,” the best players in the country. Dickson admits. He notes he particularly “We talked about what he needed to pick up his pace. (Banner) needed to do, and to his “But, really you can improve credit he took it all on board and on everything, no one is he got better and better. perfect,” Banner says. “And in the match against “The practice aspect is Western Australia he had 30 something that I just have to possessions, kicked a couple of keep working on. That’s what goals and was a real driver for us.” I’m looking forward to doing for Banner says he embraced the rest of the season and Dickson’s challenge, working hopefully getting better.” harder than ever before and On the eve of the fi nal match winning his own football. against Western Australia, AFL Each game he set himself to Victoria High Performance Vic Metro midfi elder Mitchell be better than the game before Manager Anton Grbac told Banner responded well to a and he says he is pleased with the the players it would be pre-Championships pep talk results he achieved. Dickson’s last match from coach David Dickson. “Everything I did during after 12 years as Vic the carnival I got better and Metro coach. better, everything just clicked,” It would be the catalyst for “It was just a fantastic Banner says. a stirring 29-point win. experience. To go through It was the same for the team, “That’s all we needed to get us undefeated and win the who, Banner says, realised over the line. We wanted to do it Championships is probably the they had to lift after they won for ‘Dicko’,” Banner says. best experience I’ve had.”

TAC CUP RECORD 23