TAC Record Rnd 12.Indd

TAC CUP ROUND 12 JUNE 28-29, 2014 $3.00 PPowerower ccutut llosingosing streakstreak GGippslandippsland PPowerower 111.16.821.16.82 d BBendigoendigo PPioneersioneers 77.6.48.6.48 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL Female footballers are kicking goals One of the undoubted highlights of the recent seasons has been the extraordinary emergence, growth and development of female football at all levels across Victoria. What is particularly pleasing is the interest and Football Club, as a full time development coach at St Kilda participation at all levels of the game from Under 12 Football Club. community league competitions through to the Victorian In addition, AFL Victoria’s VFL and TAC Cup umpiring group Women’s Football League (VWFL). added Lucinda Lopes to their ranks as the fi rst female AFL Victoria took over the administration and management fi eld umpire appointment in 24 years, another great of the VWFL prior to the start of the 2014 season. In 2013, achievement. the VWFL had 27 clubs and 34 teams this has grown to 31 Off the back of this positive growth on fi eld, the AFL earlier clubs and 41 teams playing in 6 Divisions in 2014. this year reinforced their commitment to greater inclusion In the long term, we would like to elevate the VWFL of women in the industry by establishing a three year Premier Division into an aspirational State League gender strategy that consists of the following four key competition that attracts the best Victorian players. We pillars. need to support the VWFL clubs to do this. Leadership & community: Building career pathways and This evolution refl ects positively on a number of aspects implementing targeted development initiatives for female including the hard work, commitment and resolve of those talent on and off the fi eld. who are coordinating and managing the VWFL clubs. Participation: Growing the number of females playing our Underage girls’ football continues to grow at a staggering game through a clear participation pathway. Ultimately, the rate and is the fastest growing segment of the game with AFL aspires to having a national women’s competition. nearly 80% growth nationally since 2011. Retail: Actively engaging the strong female fan base In Victoria, since dedicated junior and youth girls through a whole lifestyle approach that will include a competitions (2009 to 2014) were integrated into the new ready to wear women’s range and a tailored fi tness management of Victorian community leagues and their program called AFL Active. clubs, the number of dedicated female junior/youth teams has grown from 32 to 147 teams (over 450% increase). Communication: The AFL is looking to establish a Female Advisory Council to help steer the development of the There are now many community leagues and region key programs, activities and events that will underpin the commissions in the country looking to implement U12, strategy. U15 and U18 girls’ football competitions which is really pleasing. This Sunday women’s football will be showcased with the second annual AFL Women’s Exhibition Match between the As these girls are getting older the number of players and Western Bulldogs and Melbourne football clubs at Etihad clubs at senior women’s levels is also increasing, as clubs Stadium (starting at 10.10am), a curtain raiser to the AFL look to capitalise on these opportunities to grow. game between the two clubs later that day. Another indication of the increasing involvement of women in the game came recently with the appointment Grant Williams of Peta Searle, a former assistant coach at Port Melbourne AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Anthony Stanguts, David O’Neill, Kate Mitchell 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: Nash Holmes, Gippsland Power Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Talent Operations Coordinator: 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 12:45pm for TAC Cup Radio. Join Phil Crooks, Rick Morris, Gabe Sorrentino and Paige Cardona as they bring you a weekly TAC Cup match throughout the season. Saturday June 28: Calder Cannons vs Dandenong Southern Stingrays Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game (July 5): Sandringham Dragons vs Bendigo Pioneers TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars has returned to Channel 9 for season 2014. Join Craig Hutchinson and the team as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Tune in this Sunday June 29, 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 www.facebook.com/taccupfooty TAC CUP RADIO TIPSTERS LW TOTAL LW TOTAL LW TOTAL LW TOTAL Paige Cardona 2 42 Rick Morris 0 41 Phil Crooks 2 40 Gabe Sorrentino 1 38 Geelong Falcons Geelong Falcons Geelong Falcons Sandringham Dragons Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Dandenong Stingrays Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Bendigo Pioneers North Ballarat Rebels North Ballarat Rebels North Ballarat Rebels North Ballarat Rebels Murray Bushrangers Murray Bushrangers Northern Knights Murray Bushrangers Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges 2 www.afl vic.com.au Q & A WITH GRANT WILLIAMS Q & A with Grant Williams The TAC Cup record sat down with AFL Victoria General Manager, Grant Williams to capture his thoughts on Victorian football as he prepares to take on a new challenge with the AFL. Record: Where do you see the strengths of Victorian football? Grant Williams: The strength of Victorian footy is in the footprint the game has in the community. There are over 140,000 players in structured competitions around the State. The network of community leagues and clubs is signifi cant and vast; the game has developed a strong community presence and connection. The game is also fortunate that there are so many volunteers willing to support the game. It is through these volunteers and their diligence, hard work and commitment to their clubs and by extension the game that provides the game its strength and popularity. While volunteering is sometimes hard work, it can also provide some great rewards and friendships on which you Record: How have you viewed the expanded, cannot put a price. We should never take this for granted revamped NAB AFL U18 Championships? and AFL Victoria salutes all those volunteers who put their GW: It is has been a positive move to have the three heart and soul into their league, club or umpiring group every traditional Division 1 teams (Vic Country, Vic Metro, South week and, in many cases, for years! Australia & Western Australia) play each other twice. In Record: Do you think the average footy fan addition, the opportunity to play 32 players at least twice appreciates the quality of the VFL & TAC Cup? has meant that more players have had an opportunity to perform at this level. GW: I think that the quality of the two competitions is The change has not come without its challenges including probably underestimated. Simply attending a game will a longer structured program having to be balanced with provide anyone a much greater appreciation of just how school study and other playing commitments. There are strong both the TAC Cup and Peter Jackson VFL are. We get also the challenges of managing the list of players to play a great deal of feedback from lots of people and many fi rst at least two games and maintain a competitive presence in time observers that positively advocates the extremely high each game, but so far the standard of competition has been standard that exists. exceptional. Record: One of the great initiatives has been the With the Division 2 teams (NSW/ACT, Tasmania, Northern implementation of the 23rd player in the VFL, which Territory and Queensland) playing more games in the TAC gives a TAC Cup player the taste of the next level Cup it also gives more players a fantastic opportunity to before he exits the competition. Should this be experience travelling interstate for games. expanded to a 24th player? GW: The aims of any second tier competition should be Grant Williams has been appointed to the role of to provide an opportunity for players to play at the highest GM Community Football Operations with the AFL. In level they can. The VFL provides aspiring VFL players an this new role, Grant will lead and support the States in the growth, development and execution of all opportunity to progress to an AFL list and, develops young operational and management aspects of Australian AFL listed players into regular AFL players. Any idea or Football across state bodies, state affi liates, concept that goes to creating more opportunities for those community football and select international affi liates. three groups of players to fl ourish should be considered. www.taccup.com.au 3 RISING STAR Billings the latest Rising Star Former Oakleigh Chargers player Jack Billings has joined the long list of TAC Cup graduates nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star award, with a Round 14 nomination for his exceptional performance for St Kilda.

Load more