36 TAC Cup Oakleigh leading the charge on player development front By ADAM their hand up towards the back seasons and are part of the Vic “However, we see it as an CUMMINGS end of the season. Metro Squad. opportunity to get games into “Having said that we still “Chris is currently injured the rest of our list, which we Comparing current teams believe we have a solid group of with a stress reaction in his foot, also believe is very important. to past squads is always a draft hopefuls,” he said. but will be available again soon. “We have been competitive in difficult task. “Kristian Jaksch has had a “Our captain Ryan Exon has most games, which is what we But when you’ve produced a very good season to date. He’s been a consistent player as have want, and have played 55 of our stack of players who have gone always showed a lot of promise James Toohey and Sam Collins,” listed players – 95 per cent of on to play at the highest level it as a key forward, however, we he said. our squad. is an even tougher proposition. had a real focus of developing “Our over-age listed players “We have six in the Vic Mark Smart from the his game as a key back as well.” in Dylan Heath, Jordan Metro squad, two in the NSW explains that Jaksch took eight contested Collopy and Nick Papaleo have squad and one in the Northern while the past couple of years marks as a key back against continued to develop nicely Territory squad as well as have been extremely rewarding the Northern Territory (in and have been regularly rotated five players in the under-17 for the TAC Cup club, officials the national under-18 titles) between us and Port Futures Program, so overall there believe they still have a and followed that game up by in the VFL as part of our TAC we believe the season from a number of players who could kicking 6.2 against Tasmania as Cup/VFL Alignment.” total development perspective feature when names are called a key forward. Smart points out that the club is going very well,” Smart said. out at this year’s draft. “ has also been has been forced to call upon Smart said the Chargers hoped “We have had 20 players in good form mainly playing nearly its entire list this season, to make the TAC Cup finals drafted (national/rookie) in across half forward, where he is which has contributed to the this year, which would give the the past two years on to AFL a difficult match-up at 190cm even spread. players even greater exposure to lists, which as a club we are and plays small and tall,” Smart “We have been very pleased AFL recruiters. extremely proud of,” Smart said. said. with our season so far,” he said. “The games towards the end “Last year’s group had a much “His ability to read the play “The middle part of the season of the season are very important more defined top-end talent and spatial awareness is first is always very difficult for us to allow recruiters to be able to BIG FLY: Mitchell O’Donnell gets high for Vic Metro. category that we knew were rate while he also regularly hits from a results point of view make solid judgements on our clearly draft chances. the scoreboard and is a high due to so many players being players so we hope to have a “This year’s group has a more score assist player. unavailable (due to private fit and healthy squad and the even spread, which suggests we “ and Chris school and state/nationals opportunity to play some finals Vic Metro comes up big may have a few surprises put Prowse have had very good commitments). games,” he said as it overshadows SA Current squadron of Jets fast gaining altitude By PETER ARGENT Billings with a five-goal haul. half By ADAM CUMMINGS WESTERN JETS ALL-STAR TEAM AT 21 YEARS After its opening-round loss back , Jonno to the Northern Territory, Vic O’Rourke, the disciplined Jake Backs: Steven Morris (Richmond), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), The Western Jets’ TAC Cup Metro came in as underdog McKenzie and noted ball- Adam Kennedy (Greater Western Sydney). season has been a bit of a mixed at Alberton Oval against winner were also Half backs: Daniel Ward (Fitzroy, Melbourne), Craig Ellis (North bag to date – some good wins, the highly touted South strong performers. Melbourne, Footscray), (Essendon, Richmond). a couple of blowout defeats Australia but produced a Matt McDonough kept SA Centres: Heath Scotland (Collingwood, Carlton), Brad Johnson and some narrow losses. heroic effort to win its Under in the game in the first half, (Footscray), Michael Rischitelli (Brisbane, Gold Coast). Western Jets team manager 18 championships clash on kicking five of the team’s seven Half forwards: Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast), James Podsiadly Shane Sexton said that apart Saturday. goals before the break and (Essendon, Collingwood, Geelong), Shannon Grant (Sydney, North from an early drubbing at the Out of the blocks well, handing Ethan Gill his major Melbourne). hands of the Calder Cannons Metro kicked six first-quarter with a laces-out pass. Forwards: Daniel Giansiracusa (), Matthew Lloyd he’s been pleased with the way goals and survived three Power-packed small man (Essendon), Brent Prismall (Geelong, Essendon). the side has fought out games momentum swings during the Ben Kennedy, from Glenelg, Rucks: Aaron James (Collingwood, Richmond, Western Bulldogs), and, for the most part, the young contest to grab an impressive was instrumental in dragging Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs, Greater Western Sydney), Lance squad has really pushed the top 18-point victory. the Croweaters back into the Picioane (Adelaide, Hawthorn, North Melbourne). teams despite not getting over “SA came back at us a game in the second term, Int: Mitchell Banner (Port Adelaide), Jayden Post (Richmond), Will the line. couple of times, but the boys while bottom-age player Matt Hoskin-Elliott (Greater Western Sydney), Ben Haynes (Richmond, The club is again producing responded well,” said Vic Sharenberg went well and Essendon). some quality players and they BROWN: Another level. Metro coach Rohan Welsh. back pocket player Harley are ably led by their captain me after seeing him go through Houli and James Podsiadly “To come to Adelaide and Montgomery was reliable in Ashlin Brown, who has helped Joining Brown in the Metro what he’s done from the under- demonstrate the quality of beat the supposed best team defence. his side at both ends of the field, side are Jake McKenzie (younger 18s,” he said. player to have pulled on a Jets this year by three goals was an Sam Colquhuon wasn’t as his consistent performances brother of the Gold Coast’s Known as somewhat of an jumper over the years. excellent effort. polished as he had been in resulting in selection in the Vic Trent McKenzie) and Lachlan “X-factor”, Hunter is a player the The All-Star side features “Every time they came at us South Australia’s first two Metro side. Hunter, the son of former Western Bulldogs will consider an impressive balance of AFL we were able to reply, which games, but still won a team- In a recent win against the Footscray small defender Mark taking under the father-son greats, current players and some would have dented their high 27 possessions across Geelong Falcons, Brown was Hunter. rule. young men just starting to leave confidence.” half back. best afield and kicked five Kretiuk said he had been He has an exceptional leap and their mark on the game. Carey Grammar midfielder SA coach Brenton Phillips majors while also being forced impressed with McKenzie, at 185cm plays as an on-baller/ The next wave of Jets hope won the ball conceded his side produced to spend a large portion of the who had “come along in leaps forward. to emulate the feats of those consistently and drove it too many skill errors and this match in defence. and bounds” since putting in a Off the field, in conjunction who’ve gone before them and forward with purpose in a cost them victory. “He was outstanding for us tough pre-season. with the TAC Cup celebrating the future looks bright with six best-on-ground performance. Vic Metro has a pivotal and he’s really taken his footy Known for his run and carry, its 21st year, the Jets recently players – Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, Expected North Melbourne match against Vic Country to another level,” said Jets coach McKenzie said it had been great announced their All-Star team Joe Blake, Jayden Laverde, father-son selection Luke at Simonds Stadium on Steve Kretiuk. to see his brother succeed at from the past two decades. Caleb Sullivan, Billy Myers and McDonald was a key Friday week before finishing “He’s been a lot more AFL level and reap the rewards Names such as Matthew Liam Duggan (emergency) all component in the win, as was its campaign against WA at consistent with his footy this of hard work. Lloyd, Brad Johnson, Shannon chosen for the Vic Metro under- medium-sized forward Jack Etihad Stadium on July 4. year.” “He is just an inspiration to Grant, Dustin Fletcher, Bachar 16 squad. X

Inside Football Wednesday, June 20, 2012

By ADAM CUMMINGS

A