a r P Pr TALES tise. ctise. Practise. Prac sandringhamdragons.aflvic.com.au ra P Leading e. to GC s tise. Practise. Practi is e Practise. ct a r P Practise. Practise. Inside: -MAGPIE CHRIS DAWES se. Practise. Practise. se. se. i i i Make sure you get enough practice on all kinds of roads. -METRO ROUND-UP 120 hours practice. Experience not excuses. -HAWK TOM MURPHY September 2008 TAC 6778 Press_LPlate 228mmx170m4 4 6/3/08 9:33:11 AM proudly supported by: Celebrating: Tom McMahon, Jack Purton-Smith, Kwame McHarg 2008 TAC Cup team - round 17 and Keiffer Smith-Cameron Ben Kennedy and Nicholas Wynne website: sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au location: D.C. Bricker Pavilion, Princes Park, Caulfi eld South 3162. mail: PO Box 101 Caulfi eld South 3162. email: [email protected] phone: 03 9532 8688 fax: 9532 9034 managing editor: Tikali Nicholls editorial contributors: Daniel Shea, Dale Martin, Jack Palizzo, Chris Dawes, Tikali Nicholls. photographic contributors: Daryll Hunt, Jennifer Stenglein,Tikali Nicholls printer: Australian Supplies and Printing special thanks to: work-experience con- tributers Jack, Dale and Dan. The families who helped our Fundraising Evening be a great success. front cover: Under 16 Vic Metro players Ben Jacobs (Captain) and Jack Hutchins (Vice-Captain) advertising: [email protected] Sandringham Dragons Kyle Martin Tyson Thomas 2 - DRAGON TALES - sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au 120 hours practice. Experience not excuses. 14 30 features change room banter with shane o’bree 14 magpie great gets drilled by players when he joined the TAC under 18’s group at training 32 the early years 28 collingwood youngster chris dawes shares his journey as he aims to improve in the afl + collingwood’s forward coach blake caracella spills on the clubs appraisal of chris running forward “I’ve 30 past player daniel corp’s journey after his last game in 2004 realised that 19 “For a mere two and a half I don’t lack through my eyes hours... people can forget 32 jonno nash rounds out the the ability” season with his thoughts whatever might be going on Chris Dawes in their lives.” Jonno Nash 35 afl player profile 36 28 20 with hawthorn’s tom murphy contents vodafone under 15 academdy 8 “I’ve learnt participant Matt Blee shares his life and experience with the under 15’s program 23 you must vodafone under 16 academdy 18 10 catching up with dale martin and daniel continue to shea listen, learn TAC under 18 14 28 meet new recruit max gawn from ormond + 26 and execute.” captain jaryd robertson shares his wise words 24 8 Taylor Hunt 19 leading to GC 18-19 AFL NAB National Championships dragon’ representatives dominate 11 on the national stage in numbers 4 - DRAGON TALES - sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au - DRAGON TALES - 5 Vodafone Carnival Trevor Barker Oval 23rd September -3rd October Vodafone under 15’s training squad “We train as we want to play - at full intensity” Name: Matt Blee Age: 15 Club: St Pauls Mick Roberts, Vodafone At school: Math, Science, English, PE, Drama and Music. Under 15’s Development Coach AFL team: Go the Sainters. Heroes: My family - because they’re always there when I need to Player Profi le: be taken to footy training and they turn up to every single match no matter what. I am supported by: My family and my friends - especially one of my Matt Blee best mates Mitchell Hurley who is in the Dragons program with me; so he knows exactly what I am feeling. Goals: To succeed in life, and keep playing footy for as long as I possibly can - whether that be in AFL or at a local senior club. Arriving at the Dragons: When I fi rst got the letter from the Dragons I was really nervous and didn’t know whether to stress over it or be really happy. Once I got into the fi rst meeting the coaches had a chat to all the boys and told us what the program was going to be like. When all the coaches had fi nished speaking I knew that the Dragons program would be a lot of fun and at the same time, I’d learn how the game of footy is played at the top level. What the Dragons is like now: Now that I have settled in at the Dragons, I have realised how many friends I have made through the program. People that have kicked the goal to beat us in the last minute of play (Hamo) in a local game now do drills with me and make jokes in the group. Hardest thing about the Dragons so far: The hardest thing would defi nitely be starting training at 4:15pm and having to fi nish school at 3:15pm. You do not really have much time to relax. Best thing about the Dragons so far: Making new friends and learning new things. Vodafone under 15’s training squad 8 - DRAGON TALES - sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au - DRAGON TALES - 9 Name: Dale Martin Age: 16 Club: Cheltenham Junior Football Club School: St Bedes College, Mentone Vodafone under 16’s Academy Like about the Dragons: Defi natly the football, learning so many new things but also the social aspect of the club, meeting new people and enjoying the time spent around the club. Dragons history: I started in the U15’s along with 120 other boys but have really enjoyed moving up into the less crowded 16’s squad and training with the 18’s. Goals at the Dragons: As well as become a better player and person, to really just consistently train well and come the September legends carnival hopefully I can put together some good performances, but my ultimate goal is to make the TAC Team of 2009. Funniest player in my Dragons group: They’re all clowns. Hayden Jeans thinks he’s pretty funny I’ll have to give him a mention. Subjects at school: PE, English, Math, Outdoor Education, Geography, Health, RE AFL team: Western Bulldogs Hero: All my mates and Mum, she’s a bit of a legend. Player Profi les: Name: Daniel Shea Age: 16 Club: Mordialloc Braeside Junior Football Club School: St Bedes College, Mentone Like about the Dragons: Football skills learnt and positive atmosphere around the club. Dale Martin Dragons history: I came out into the 15’s but missed the games in September to follow through to the 16’s. Luckily I was being watched in my grand fi nal for Mordi–Brae, where I played well and earned my spot in the squad. Expectations this year in football/ at the Dragons: Daniel Shea Continue to learn about football which will help me as a player and person. Goals for this year at a football level at Dragons: To improve my work ethic, kicking skill and to hopefully make the 18’s squad. Thoughts of the coaching staff: They’re all really good, they know the game well, have great experience and there are a wide range of coaches for different aspects of the game. Subjects: Math, English, RE, PE, Biology and History Funniest: Jack Frost AFL team: Hawthorn Hero: Matt Boland Supported by: Family and close friends. Dale Martin Vodafone under 16’s Academy Daniel Shea 10 - DRAGON TALES - sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au - DRAGON TALES - 11 under 15’s carnival games under 16’s carnival games 12 - DRAGON TALES - sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au sandringhamdragons.afl vic.com.au - DRAGON TALES - 13 Max Gawn’s journey into TAC Football. The call came through to the offi ce in early May. ‘Why don’t Community Coaching Development you have this Ormond boy on your list? He’s 200cm!’ Two weeks passed and on Sunday, May 18 at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton, wearing number 31 for the Dragons, there was Coaching development sessions were held Around the Dragons Max Gawn. This young 16 year old showed his style and for the regions’ coaches for the fi rst time -community participation thoroughly enjoyed the impromptu step-up to the TAC. Post between May and July, as a part of the match Max said “[TAC football] it’s a lot quicker and has less Dragons efforts to develop football in the stoppages (then in his local football games with Ormond FC). I felt pretty confi dent going into it, being 10cm taller than region. Over three successful evenings everyone else but they sure can jump.” Max’s quick entry into Max Gawn attendees from Auskick, junior, school and the TAC team was applauded by Gawn’s class mates as he returned on Monday to fi nd his Around the Dragons senior football joined together to learn from game pictures on all the walls at McKinnon Secondary. -TAC CUP our guest speakers Grant Thomas, Kelly O’Donnell and Max is like many young footballers in the region, happy playing the game he loves. At Ormond, Bernadette Vaux (from Coaching Partners). Sharing their the Dragons or where ever the future takes him, Max says he knows he needs to “not change under 18’s update my game pending on the situation – just remain focused [on his role in the team]”. knowledge in relationships, development and communication these speakers certainly left their audiences with a wealth of AFL Respect Under 16’s player Dale Martin asks TAC Under 18’s information and skills to return to their home clubs with. and team captain Jaryd Robertson a few pressing Responsibility questions.