Temperature Rises in Tac Cup Finals Fever
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$ inc afl victoria tac cup finals series, 2009 3gst $ inc 3gst temperature rises in tac cup finals fever fROm ThE OvAl OffiCE Spring and finals in the air The vfl and TAC Cup are gearing up for a memorable end to season 2009. ast weekend I had the second quarter. However, full Remember to set aside pleasure of travelling credit to the Falcons, who were September 25, Blue Friday, when to Queensland with the able to regroup at half-time. the TAC Cup and VFL Grand Finals Geelong Falcons for While one would have expected will be played at Etihad Stadium. Ltheir match against the Gold the hot conditions to favour the This year our finals series will be Coast team. home team, it was Geelong that supporting the Australian Anti- It gave me an opportunity to ran out the game the better. Cancer Council’s Blue September, see first-hand the operational Falcons region manager which promotes health and the side of our TAC Cup competition Michael Turner felt it was an prevention of men’s cancers. in and around match day. What I invaluable experience for the Meanwhile, the ABC informed witnessed is no doubt mirrored young players, and that Gold us late last week that they will be across the competition and it is a Coast’s entry into the competition broadcasting the VFL Grand Final testimony to the men and women in 2009 had been a wonderful live nationally on ABC HD, which – many of whom are volunteers or positive for the competition. is great news for our competition. paid a fraction of their value – who Watching at such close The VFL has the reputation as support our TAC Cup clubs. quarters reinforced just why the the best competition outside The way the boys looked and TAC Cup is the best underage the AFL, and now footy fans behaved while travelling was very competition in the nation, across Australia can see that professional, and Falcons coach preparing players for the rigours for themselves. Garry Hocking showed why he of the AFL and enhancing the I’m also sure Victorians will be should soon be on the shortlist for professionalism and skills of the delighted that the Grand Final will an AFL club coaching role. support staff, many who are also be broadcast on a delayed basis The game was played at aspiring to break into AFL ranks. on ABC1 later that Friday night, temperatures the Geelong boys Turning to this weekend’s with a highlights package to be certainly were not used to, and matches, we are into week one screened the next day leading up the team physios and support of the finals in both the VFL and to the AFL Grand Final. staff were excellent in their TAC Cup, with North Ballarat management of the group. and the Geelong Falcons the It was a great game of footy, respective minor premiers. Peter SChwab with Geelong getting up to win I wish the best of luck to all Chief Executive Officer, after appearing vulnerable in the clubs in the finals. AFL Victoria aFL Victoria Chief executive Officer: Photography: FInaLS weekS 1-3, 2009 Peter Schwab Getty Images 1800 500 141 COntentS Football Operations Manager: advertising: John Hook Jennifer Pryor (03) 8663 3007 Finals preview 4-7 high Performance Managers: Morrish Medal 8 Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Statistics: Sophie Timms Team lists 10-17 CeO, the Slattery Media Group: COVer: (Clockwise from top left) TAC Cup stats 18 Geoff Slattery Andrew Hooper (North Ballarat), Anton editor: Andrew Wallace Woods (Northern), Charlie Dixon (Gold TAC Cup honour roll 19 Coast), Ben Cunnington (Geelong), Designer: Karl Chandler Luke McDonald (Eastern), Jake Carlisle 2009 fixture 20 Photo Manager: Melanie Tanusetiawan (Calder), Tom Scully (Dandenong) and John Butcher (Gippsland) will be looking AFL graduates 23 Printed by: Condor Printing to impress in September. TAC CUP RECORD / 3 Gippsland Power’s finals John Butcher preview finals preview The TAC Cup Record quizzes the coaches of the eight finals clubs about their September prospects. 4 / visit www.taccup.com.au TAC CUP finAlS PREviEw GEElOnG MICHAEL SODAMACO has a contest and provides great on- fAlCOnS very big engine in the midfield. field leadership.” position: First He’s going to win us the football Team to beat: “Geelong’s record record: 17-1 and pump it inside 50. during the season has been Coach: Garry Hocking TOM McKENZIE is coming back super-impressive. I also think finals prospects: “Eastern from the national carnival; we’re that Gold Coast’s defensive defeated us by one point and a lot looking forward to seeing how he pressure is good, so they could be of the teams that we had success plays against quality opposition.” the smoky.” against during the home and away Team to beat: “All of the teams season had key players missing. are pretty classy, and we don’t Dandenong think we have the wood over any Stingray We know those teams will be Tom Scully strengthened. We haven’t won a team. Eastern has beaten us by final for five or six years, so we a point, but there are other sides want to win our first final and see who will play well in the finals.” where that takes us.” Team strengths: “We don’t rely just on just a couple of players; GiPPSlAnD we’ve got a lot of talent and POwER importantly, we play well together position: Second as a team.” record: 11-7 The edge: “It helps that we’ve had Coach: Damian Carroll players who have experienced finals prospects: “We’re capable the national championships, and of winning finals. We’ve beaten some games where we’ve just teams in the top eight, but we got over the line against good know that unless we play at our opposition; there is belief among best we won’t be able to knock the group.” anyone over, as all of the sides in players to watch: “JOE DARE the eight are well credentialed.” plays down back and has stood Team strengths: “Our ability to tall for us when we were missing win the contested ball is pretty DAnDEnOnG some key players. We’re looking good, and our defensive pressure STinGRAYS for him to continue that during has been solid all year. In position: Third the finals. attack, we have a good spread of record: 11-7 goalkickers.” Coach: Graeme Yeats Geelong falcon Ben Cunnington The edge: “Our finals experience finals prospects: “We’ve lost and the fact that we have some Vic our way in the past few weeks Country representatives who have and would need to improve, but played at a high level is a bit of an I’ve got full confidence in our advantage over clubs who may not players being able to regroup have as many players involved. and rise to the occasion. We need We also have an ability to kick a to be harder in our attack on the winning score.” contest, but there is no question players to watch: “JOHN the ability is there.” BUTCHER, who is a tremendous Team strengths: “Our depth has mark, will be important with his positioned us in the top half of ability to make a contest. the eight for most of the season NATHAN VARDY is our and will help us throughout the No. 1 ruckman and has great finals. We don’t rely on any one athleticism and mobility around or two players.” the ground, as well as an ability to The edge: “We need all of our impact the game. players to lift by 10 to 15 per cent KOBY STEVENS wins the and if they do that, it will give contested football, is hard at the us the edge.” TAC CUP RECORD / 5 TAC CUP finAlS PREviEw players to watch: “RYAN Eastern’s luke hardworking midfielders and BASTINAC is a tough midfielder McDonald some forwards that can finish who works hard to win his off. There is nobody that is going own football and gives a lift to to carry us, but this group works everyone around him. very well together.” DYLAN ROBERTON is a key The edge: “Our work rate. defender who has been in good Everyone who plays for Gold form for us all season. Coast understands the intensity RILEY HEDDLES has battled they need to have at the football.” injuries, but is a quick, hard, players to watch: “MARC LOCK is medium-sized midfielder who is our captain and a good player in coming good at the right time of numerous positions. the season.” ZAC SMITH is our tallest player Team to beat: “Geelong is the team (204 cm), and his ability to give to beat, but Eastern is right up us first use of the ball around there. Geelong has so many good stoppages is crucial. players across all lines, they’re LUKE SHREEVE hasn’t played quick and their kicking ability is the a lot of football for us, and while best I’ve seen this year.” he’s unfashionable, he’s very clever and gets the job done.” Team to beat: “Geelong has the EASTERn runs on the board – they have lost RAnGES just the one game for the season position: Fourth and only by one point. They play record: 11-7 forward, but has really taken consistently good football.” Coach: Shane Watson to a role down back recently. finals prospects: “We would like He’s a versatile player who can Gold Coast’s to think we are some chance. Like make an impact. Charlie Dixon most other clubs going into the MATT SCOTT is a midfielder finals, we’ve got most of our best with really good evasive skills and players available.” clean hands.