EDITORIAL Future talent named in Academy The initial intake for AFL Victoria’s new VFL Academy has been announced. JUST last week the initial AFL with players in conjunction with coach in the best interest of the Victoria VFL Academy player their respective VFL coaches, it’s individual player. list was announced. It’s an envisaged more VFL players will Importantly, the Academy exciting time not only for those follow down that path. concept has been embraced by players, but also for the State’s Academy members will receive all stakeholders, particularly Peter talented player pathway. an individual development Jackson VFL Clubs and their The Academy provides another program as well as medical coaching staffs. opportunity for aspiring, talented screening, nutritional education, Academy members will not be young Victorian players to grow GPS tracking, welfare and training together on a weekly and develop to reach their personal development services basis, but instead they will potential and, in some cases, and access to AFL Draft Combine come into Visy Park up to six push their claim before AFL Club testing. times throughout the season recruiters. Significantly, it’s also an adjunct for specialised and individual While a squad of 21, chosen after to the AFL Victoria Development development support. input from all Peter Jackson VFL League, also introduced for the It’s more about the one-on-one Clubs and AFL Club recruiters, first time this year. A number dialogue with Nathan Bibby than has been announced there is of the players in the Academy participating in group football scope to add players as the will spend some time in the training drills. season progresses. Development League this season The Academy program will Over recent years more and honing their skills, working on supplement the existing coaching more Peter Jackson VFL players their game as they strive to programs in place currently at are gaining a chance at the AFL develop and improve. VFL Clubs. level after showcasing their talent The Academy will provide players It is envisaged that such support within the quality standard of our a greater insight into how they will provide a more seamless state league competition. can improve specific areas of transition into an AFL Club Already in the early rounds of the their game; they will be able environment if they are, indeed, AFL season we’ve seen former to view vision of their games selected at any of the AFL Drafts. Peter Jackson VFL players Orren where the emphasis will be on Over time the AFL Victoria Stephenson, Tory Dickson, Jarrod highlighting particular aspect or VFL Academy will become an Boumann and James Magner all aspects of their game. integral part of the talented player make their AFL debut. Simply, the aim of the Academy pathway in Victoria. With the support and expertise is a combined, collaborative offered through the Academy, approach whereby the Academy, - Grant Williams under coach/mentor Nathan works with the player and his VFL General Manager Bibby, who’ll work individually ROUND 3, APRIL 7-8, 2012 HEADQUARTERS. CONTENTS. Media Coverage 4 Tipsters 30 Visy Park VFL Academy 6 VFL Team Lists 31 Gate 3 Royal Parade Ford Coaches Award 9 Progressive Scores 38 Carlton Nth VIC 3054 Grant Williams 11 AFL Victoria Development 39 GPO Box 4337 Scott West 15 TAC Cup Coaches Award 41 MELBOURNE VIC 3001 Hayden Skipworth 17 Nick Stevens 42 Phone: (03) 8341 6000 Bendigo Gold 19 Justin Plapp 43 Fax: (03) 9380 1076 Around the Grounds 21 David Newett 45 Website: www.aflvic.com.au Ford Face in the Crowd 22 TAC Cup Team Lists 50 www.vfl.com.au | 3 MEDIA COVERAGE Media Coverage VFL Radio Sunday 8th April Williamstown vs Geelong Cats From 1:30pm AEDT Live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App, vfl.com.au, sen.com.au Aussie Digital and the SEN iPhone app. Next Week: Casey Scorpions vs Bendigo 3WBC Saturday 7th April Werribee Tigers vs Box Hill Hawks From 6pm Listen to 94.1 FM or online at www.3wbc.org.au Next Week: Box Hill Hawks vs Port Melbourne ABC TV Saturday 7th April Collingwood vs North Ballarat From 1pm Replay: 3am Wednesdays ABC TV Next Week: North Ballarat vs Williamstown SEN Thursday 12th April The Peter Jackson VFL Show 8:30pm – 9pm Footy Online Keep up with the latest VFL news online via: website: www.vfl.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/vflfooty twitter: @VFLnews #PJVFL COVER CONTRIBUTORS VFL: Geelong’s Jaxson Barham in TAC Cup: North Ballarat Rebel’s Editor: Anthony Stanguts [email protected] action versus Collingwood Jake Lloyd in action versus Murray Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Matt Lee, Kate Gurney, Photo: Arj Giese Bushrangers Kane Hunkin, Ben Carbonaro, Adem Saricaoglu Design & Print: Red Onion Creative (03) 5221 4408 Photos: AFL Photos (unless otherwise credited) 4 | www.aflvic.com.au WILLIAMSTOWN VS GEELONG VFL goes to the Bellarine Peninsula SURFERS around the globe Last year when the surf wasn’t with Torquay Football Club as who descend on Bells Beach, up Curry believes it cost the the quintessential win/win for the Surf Coastal Shire town gate adding to the 4300 who both clubs. Torquay retains about 100 kilometres from witnessed the Williamstown/ the takings from the bar and Melbourne are not alone in Geelong match. canteen while Williamstown their hope that the surf’s up Such was the success of last owns the gate receipts. this Easter weekend. year’s inaugural match that Williamstown runs a president’s Brendan Curry, venerable Williamstown hopes to lock in lunch, which the Torquay administrator at Williamstown the concept for the next five Football Club caters for. for the past 18 years, is not years. “As they say, everyone is a known for his surfing pursuits or Curry noted that last year’s winner and it is just a great feel. prowess, but, he too, is hoping match generated great All they players love playing in the waves are literally thundering atmosphere, which is built upon front of a really big crowd,” he in on Easter Sunday. by the amphitheatre type arena, said. Curry reckons if the surfs up and tapped into the festive While Williamstown has it will bring an early end to the period at the Bellarine Peninsula unsuccessfully pursued in the day’s activities out on the water over Easter. past playing on Good Friday, and allow more people to attend “The Surf Shire Council tells Curry said the club is now more the second Peter Jackson us that there are 40,000 than happy to play on Easter VFL match at the nearby visitors who come to the area Sunday at Torquay. Torquay Football ground where over Easter. There’s a captive Curry noted that its AFL affiliate Williamstown play Geelong for audience so we think the crowd VFL premiership points. Western Bulldogs is supportive can even grow more this year,” of the game being played at It’s one of three Peter Jackson Curry said. Torquay, so, too Geelong. VFL games that will be played “Torquay is about to undergo big “The feedback I received from outside the traditional VFL changes to its change rooms venues this season. The other last year’s game that it was a so by us playing there last year terrific idea and many people games are Coburg Tigers v and again this year it has helped Bendigo at Shepparton, Round who didn’t go last year for them to keep improving their whatever reason will be going 11 and Coburg Tigers v Geelong facilities.” at Warrnambool, Round 14. this year.” Curry viewed the arrangement www.vfl.com.au | 5 AFL VICTORIA VFL ACADEMY AFL Victoria VFL Academy AFL VictOria last week many games as possible as he making the transition from launched its initial VFL ran his eye over prospective VFL to the AFL, and will also Academy squad for 2012. Academy invitees. engage with the Academy The newly established VFL “There was a squad of 21 members. Academy will provide players announced, but there is the Bibby said the idea is to with additional development scope for three or four to be expose Academy members to experiences to the high added as the year progresses,” information and advice they quality programs already Bibby said. may not be able to garnish at offered at Peter Jackson VFL their VFL clubs. clubs. “It’s about providing opportunities for players who “The other critical thing is that AFL Victoria’s VFL Academy missed out in the AFL drafts, we are doing an individual Coach/Mentor Nathan Bibby but still have the potential to be development plan for each oversees the Academy, which drafted,” Bibby said. player,” Bibby said. can have players added to throughout the season. Academy members will “We’ll be getting the players to come together for four or buy in with their expectations Bibby said the initial squad of five sessions throughout the and where they think they 21 had been determined after season, but they won’t be for can improve. It’s not going to each Peter Jackson VFL club training sessions although all be ‘here it is’, it will be a joint had nominated up to three members will undertake the effort. players from their respective testing drills that are conducted “Instead of going in and trying club, plus consultation with AFL at the AFL Draft Combine. club recruiting staff and his to change a player totally, we own observations. Guest presenters, including want to tweak one or two things AFL coaches, club recruiters with them and get them to work During the preseason practice and various football people, on them over the year.” matches, Bibby took in as will talk about resilience and Bibby noted there will have Werribee’s Kyle Hartigan.