Coburg upset Casey VFL ROUND 13, TAC CUP ROUND 10 AFL VICTORIA JUNE 25-26, 2011 Rebels bounce back ALL-NEW RANGER Ready to take on the world Tested to the limits and beyond Meet the team and the locations that pushed the all-new Ranger to the limits and beyond at ford.com.au/newranger Pre-production 4x4 XLT Crew Cab shown in Aurora Blue. Appearance may change at time of introduction. FCORPS0017_Ran_210x148.5_2.indd 1 3/03/11 4:42 PM editorial Your questions answered In the Record today, we try and answer the questions that are often asked in the outer of a weekend at matches. ONE of the things that has There is a need for a strategic the racial vilifi cation incident become quickly apparent plan for the future of the VFL involving North Melbourne since I took on the post as AFL competition, this is a priority for listed player Majak Daw at the Victoria General Manager is AFL Victoria at the moment. Port Melbourne/Werribee match that football followers have What should not be lost in these earlier in the month. an insatiable appetite for headline grabbing ‘debates’ The offending person voluntarily information about the VFL. is that there are numerous agreed to complete the And, that’s great. It shows a examples of strong alignment education session we offered genuine interest and passion relationships that have and and formally apologised to for the competition as well as a continue to produce mutual Majak. care for its continued well-being benefi ts for both parties. The way the people at the and sustained future. Also, what can’t be overlooked game – the offi cials from Inside this edition of the AFL is that VFL clubs and their both clubs, the players and Victoria Record, many of the community partners, sponsors, the fans – responded and questions that have been members, players, facilities, the ensuing public comment canvassed on the terraces on a volunteers, fans and supportive sent a very clear message Saturday or Sunday afternoon local Councils are an important that such behaviour is totally are answered. segment of the Victorian football inappropriate, unacceptable, With so much speculation environment and economy that intolerable and has no place at generated through the media needs to be protected. a football match or in society. in the seemingly never ending Over the coming months Many more questions will discussion on the relative merits AFL Victoria will be in a arise over the course of the of a stand-alone versus aligned better position to outline a second half of the season. It’s club situation, it’s only natural defi nitive plan for the VFL an intrinsic part of any vibrant that questions are raised about competition and its clubs. competition and it’s something the VFL’s composition and its Naturally, the future direction that AFL Victoria encourages future. will be articulated fully in this and we’ll address those issues We recognise the uncertainty publication as well as on our again in the AFL VictoriaRecord and instability to the web site at a later date. before the season is over. competition and its clubs that It’s pleasing to note that over is fuelled by these on-going the last few weeks there has - Grant Williams discussions. been a positive conclusion to AFL Victoria General Manager JUNE 25th-26th, 2011 Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au HEADQUARTERS CONTENTS Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Matt Lee, Brendan Lucas, Kane Hunkin, Visy Park Samantha Landy, James Hunter Smith Gate 3 Royal Parade Design & Print: Red Onion Creative (03) 5221 4408 Photos: Getty Images, Damian Visentini Carlton Nth VIC 3054 Advertising: David Howard (03) 8341 6007 GPO Box 4337 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams MELBOURNE VIC 3001 Football Operations Manager: John Hook VFL 5 - 39 High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Phone: (03) 8341 6000 TAC Cup 40 - 62 Leon Harris Fax: (03) 9380 1076 Football Operations Offi cer: Luke Gatti Football Operations Coordinator: Sophie Timms Website: www.afl vic.com.au www.afl vic.com.au 3 note from the editor Football from another perspective Where is your favourite spot to watch the football? LAST weekend I ventured down to unfold on the sidelines, as well as will defi nitely reconsider where I Skilled Stadium, the fi rst time I had out on the fi eld. In the tense fi nal watch the footy if I know the show made the trek down the term, when the Bullants trailed on the sidelines will be just as Princess Hwy to the home of the by 23 points, I was enthralled by good as it was last weekend. Cats. the changes being made on the I must say I was impressed by bench, and the constant rotations. Fixture changes the venue, and can see why AFL Yes, I know rotations are part of Geelong holds such a home the game now, but the clockwork Round 17: The Bendigo Bombers ground advantage when they by which the players knew when vs. Geelong match has been play there. That home ground they were coming to the bench, shifted from Queen Elizabeth Oval advantage almost paid off for the and who they were replacing to Windy Hill. The game remains VFL Cats last week, as they went fascinated me. on Sunday 24th July commencing oh so close to causing what would There were moments of confusion at 2:00pm. The reason for the have been two upset results for the when a particular player was not shift weekend (with Coburg defeating ready on the bench, was receiving is that is it required by the Casey). treatment, or the player they Bendigo Council in order to Being an AFL venue, I watched were meant to be interchanging manage the usage of the ground with interest as the siren sounded with was on the other side of after the for quarter time in the Geelong the ground, but this is when the renovation work. versus Northern Bullants game, runner was quickly on the phone Round 20: The Coburg Tigers vs with people wondering whether receiving instructions from the Casey Scorpions match has been they could venture out onto the coaches box. There was also shifted from Highgate Recreation ground and listen to the coaches plenty of yelling out to players on Reserve to Mantello Holden at the break. As soon as the fi rst the fi eld as well, to tell them to Oval and will now commence at person hesitantly made their head to the bench. 2:00pm instead of 7:00pm. The way on to the ground, a steady The changes were constant even game stream of people continued to in the dying moments of the game, remains on Saturday 13th August. follow, enjoying the practice that and you could feel the tension The Coburg Tigers vs. Casey makes the VFL and its coaches from the bench as they decided Scorpions Reserve Grade match and players so accessible. But I whether they should watch or look remains the curtain raiser digress. away as Cam Mooney had a shot commencing at 11:00am. The The one thing I enjoyed about the at goal to tie the scores with less change is at the request of the game last week, apart from visiting than two minutes left in the game. Coburg FC. a new stadium, was sitting next Admittedly I am usually the guy to the Northern Bullants coaches sitting up in the stand to grab the - Anthony Stanguts box, and watching the game birds eye view of the game, but I Communications Offi cer media coverage Round 13, June 25th - 26th: Saturday, 25th June ABC TV: Port Melbourne vs Geelong tune into ABC1 from 1pm Sunday, 26th June VFL Radio: Sandringham vs Collingwood from 1:30pm www.vfl .com.au or www.bpmmedia.com.au or Aussie Digitial Thursday, 30th June SEN: ‘State of Play’ - the VFL half hour 8:30pm-9pm 4 www.afl vic.com.au grant williams AFL Victoria General Manager Grant Williams goes head to head with the VFL Record After nearly three months in the job as general manager, the Record puts the hard questions to Grant Williams about the season so far in the VFL. VFL Record: How do you develop an overall strategic refl ect on the fi rst half of the plan for Victorian football, VFL season? which obviously includes the Grant Williams: There’s little VFL. Already, I’ve met with doubt the standard of this each individual VFL club as unique competition, which well as many community clubs embraces VFL listed players to gain a feel for how they’re as well as AFL Listed and travelling and how we can Rookie players, continues help and support them. It is to provide an increasingly something that is going to take high quality of football. It’s a between six to 12 months to competition that challenges all formulate. players to perform to the best VFLR: What is your impression of their ability and as we have of the media coverage of the seen already it is a legitimate VFLR: What have been the VFL? pathway for players aspiring to highlights? GW: It would seem the play AFL. So far we have seen GW: Obviously, the great VFL is generating plenty of Isaac Smith (North Ballarat to interest across all mediums – Hawthorn), Michael Hibberd start by Port Melbourne to the season, the relative newspapers, radio, television, (Frankston/Essendon), Cam internet, and the various Pederson (Box Hill Hawks/ evenness of the competition where any team on any given social media networks - and North Melbourne), Ed Curnow that’s pleasing.