Murray Bushrangers Duo Jarman Impey and Nick Holman Make It Back to Shepparton
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TAC CUP ROUND 10 JUNE 22-23, 2013 $3.00 CChargershargers rreturneturn ttoo wwinnersinners llistist EEasternastern RRangesanges 220.9.1290.9.129 d GGeelongeelong FFalconsalcons 22.9.21.9.21 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL The season so far AS season 2013 seemingly fl ashes by it’s worth taking time to refl ect on what’s been achieved, the state of the game and the challenges that await. One of the most pleasing aspects in the fi rst half of the against South Australia on Friday season is the progress of TAC and VFL graduates who as it bids to run to three fi nd themselves on an AFL list this season. successive NAB AFL U18 Championship titles they’ve won. More than a dozen TAC Cup players have achieved their goal of making their AFL debut with Oliver Wines The Peter Jackson VFL lost its State representative (Bendigo Pioneers), Nick Vlastuin (Northern Knights), match against Western Australia, but the game Jackson Macrae (Oakleigh Chargers), Sam Kerridge showcased many talented players just as it did last year (Bendigo Pioneers) and Lachie Whitfi eld (Dandenong when Kyle Martin, Dean Towers, Leigh Osborne, Kyle Stingrays) all earning a NAB Rising Star nomination. Hartigan, Sam Dwyer and Brett Goodes all played and were subsequently listed at AFL Clubs at the end of last From the Peter Jackson VFL draftees we’ve seen Matt year. Jones (Box Hill Hawks), Kyle Martin (Frankston), Sam Dwyer (Port Melbourne), Brett Goodes (Williamstown) Again, there’s more than ample evidence to note with and Jack Frost (Williamstown) also make the transition surety that Victorian football is in a healthy state. to playing at the AFL level. At the mid-point mark of the Peter Jackson VFL there are While he made the transition a few years before, there still 12 teams in contention for the fi nals and as the was no more telling illustration of the opportunities results have indicated any team on any given day can provided by the Peter Jackson VFL than Michael Firrito, a win regardless of their ladder standing. winner of the 2002 Fothergill Round Medal, who earlier Certainly, Bendigo Gold has endured a tough start to its this season played his 200th game for North Melbourne. fi rst year as a stand-alone club, but they’re providing Over the next fortnight we’ll see more of the game’s plenty of opportunities for young, local players and future stars when the NAB AFL Championships return to working hard on and off fi eld to succeed. Victoria for the fi nal two matches. What also has been impressive has been the high quality and production of the ABC TV’s match-of-the-day. Some extremely gifted Vic Country and Vic Metro players will be in action at Simonds Stadium this Friday There’s much to look forward to not only from the ABC and again at Ethihad Stadium on Wednesday, July 3. If coverage, but from football fi elds around the State in the you get the opportunity take in a game, you’ll be second half of the season. impressed. Grant Williams Vic Metro takes an unbeaten record into its match AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, David O’Neill, Rick Morris Design & Print: Cyan Press Photos: AFL Photo’s (unless otherwise credited) Visy Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 www.afl vic.com.au State League & Talent Manager: John Hook High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Cover photo: Oakleigh Chargers Nick Prowse Talent Operations Coordinator: Sophie Timms 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 June 22 – Calder Cannons vs Gippsland Power, 1:45pm Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game: Northern Knights vs Dandenong Stingrays TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars is back on Channel 9 for season 2013. Join Craig Hutchinson, Kevin Sheehan, and Terry Wallace as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Tune in this Sunday June 23, at 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 BEHIND THE SCENES Behind the scenes David O’Neill joins Victoria Country for the trip to Adelaide and the big clash with South Australia in the NAB AFL U18 Championships. It was the last thing any of us wanted to hear. Our fl ight Friday from Adelaide to Melbourne on Sunday night had been The players arrived in batches, gathering from all corners delayed by an hour and a half, and the long trip home just of the State, some enduring two-hour plus drives to be got a little longer. there. Immediately the calculations begin. The North Ballarat For Dandenong Stingrays defender Josh Pickess, the fresh Rebels contingent, including team manager Phil Partington air at training is perfect after a morning spent in a three- and young forward Dallas Willsmore are now due to back hour English exam, while for others it’s a chance to burn up in Ballarat at 11pm, while it will be beyond midnight some nervous energy before the 5.40pm fl ight. before Murray Bushrangers duo Jarman Impey and Nick Holman make it back to Shepparton. Not everyone is nervous though and for many it’s a chance to catch up with mates from different TAC Cup regions. A frustrating thought when school awaits on Monday morning. Classy Falcons midfi elder Nic Bourke and Stingrays speedster Billy Hartung are like two peas-in-a-pod with a The Geelong Falcons group, including captain James few sledges offered in both directions, while Impey and Tsitas and key defender Darcy Gardiner arrange a lift with fellow small forward Clay McCartney (Stingrays) are soon assistant coach Cameron Loftus, saving their parents a late joined at the hip. night trip up the highway. The plane trip is quick and uneventful and soon we are The delay is particularly annoying for Gardiner, now on standing outside the hotel in Glenelg with rooms being crutches after injuring his ankle late in the third quarter allotted. and surely seeking the comfort of home. For the young defender and the 22 other players and 15- Players are divided into threes and Vic Country High odd support staff, the wait means more time to dwell on Performance Manager Leon Harris issues the rules, “the the 34-point defeat suffered at the hands of a supremely biggest bloke gets the double bed”. talented South Australian outfi t; time to fi gure out what It’s good news for Gippsland Power big man Jack Leslie at went wrong. 198cm tall, but not so much for his Power teammate, small It’s a sobering evaluation after so much went right on the forward Alex Saunders. three-day trip, a journey that began on Friday with a light Soon the fi rst meeting begins in a conference room at the training session at Visy Park. hotel which has been set up thanks to property steward www.taccup.com.au 3 BEHIND THE SCENES Brian Kinder and much loved trainer Richard Embleton, The group then heads outdoors for a lively session in a who arrived early after making the trip by car. nearby park which begins with a quick game from assistant The huge tubs of Powerade and fi ltered water are good to coach Glen Manton that gets everyone – including the go and the players waste no time in seeing who can be the support staff – sharing a laugh. fi rst with blue lips. After some more games that have the players working hard Harris sets the tone for the weekend with a speech that on their skills, attention turns to the team’s structures and has the boys attentive and focused as he drills in the the group works through how they’ll set up for different opportunity the group has in front of them. scenarios; a ball up on the wing, a kick-in after a set shot from the opposition. He singles out Hartung, announcing that head coach Mark Ellis and his assistants have decided he’ll have a run-with Ellis and assistant coach Darren Flanigan take a back seat, role on dangerous SA wingman James Aish. putting the responsibility on the players to get to the right Aish’s skills are highly regarded and with Hartung’s own spots. array of offensive weapons, including a blistering turn Tsitas comes into his own and his standing among the of speed, the match-up promises to be one to watch on group is obvious. A larrikin at heart, the inside midfi elder Sunday. helps his quieter teammates come out of their shells but After the meeting concludes it’s on to dinner and the fi rst for now he’s all business, directing traffi c and making sure chance to get to know the players.