VFL FINALS WEEK 2 SEMI FINALS SEPTEMBER 7-8, 2013 $3.00 JJ.J..J. LListoniston tthree-wayhree-way ttieie New VFL life members, clockwise from back left: Shane Valenti, John Baird, Dom Gleeson, Sam Pleming, Gerard Ryan, Bryan Mace, Peter Balding. Steve Clifton, Mitch Hallahan and Jordan Schroder celebrate their Liston win. Fothergill-Round Toyota VFL Coaches Player of the year Medallist Kane Lambert winner Alik Magin The Peter Jackson VFL Team of the Year A.Todd Medallist Aiden Lindsay Alec Gillon recipient Joe Falzon Peter Donegan (left) interviews ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal winner Dean Galea Essendon GM Matt Little (left) receives the best conducted club award from State League Umpiring Assistant Angela Lindsay EDITORIAL A vote count to remember CELEBRATING J.J. Liston Trophy night is always an evening to remember, but this year it was three times as memorable. For just the second time ever in the storied history of the of sharing in the Liston Trophy and Liston Trophy, awarded in recognition for the fairest and earlier in the season represented best player in the Peter Jackson VFL, three players – the VFL in the State representative Stephen Clifton, Mitch Hallahan and Jordan Schroder – match against Western Australia, shared the honor. has the attributes to take his game to the next level. He too In a stunning climax to the count, Schroder leapt from is a produce of the TAC Cup, formerly with the Northern fourth to a tie for fi rst with a maximum three vote game in Knights. the fi nal home and away round of the Peter Jackson VFL Casey Scorpions Aiden Lindsay won the A. Todd Medal for season. the best and fairest in the Development League. It’s worth The Liston result provides a snap shot of the unique noting that six years ago the Todd Medal was won by Sam offering that the Peter Jackson VFL delivers for players. Dwyer who this weekend will play for Collingwood in an Elimination Final. For Stephen Clifton, who became the seventh dual Liston Trophy winner, the competition provides him the Port Melbourne full forward Dean Galea was awarded the opportunity to play at the highest level outside the AFL. Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal for the leading goal kicked in the Peter Jackson VFL. For Hallahan and Schroder, two emerging young players on AFL Club lists, the Peter Jackson VFL gives them a quality Bendigo Gold’s Alik Magin won the Toyota VFL Coaches competition to refi ne their skills and learn their craft in Player of the Year Award, votes complied weekly by preparation for a call-up to the AFL. coaches on opposition players. All three are a further glowing endorsement of Victoria’s VFL Life Membership was bestowed upon Port Melbourne talented player pathway as each came through the TAC Cup captain John Baird, his teammate Sam Pleming, Geelong’s program – Clifton (North Ballarat Rebels), Hallahan Dom Gleeson, dual Liston Trophy winner Shane Valenti, (Dandenong Stingrays) and Schroder (Calder Cannons). umpire Peter Balding, Frankston General Manager Bryan Mace and Sandringham President, Gerard Ryan. While the Liston Trophy took centre stage the evening also saw the VFL community toast other outstanding individual Long serving Northern Blues head trainer and now property achievements. steward Joey Falzon was awarded the Alec Gillon Medal for outstanding contribution to the club. Kane Lambert, a Northern Blues player who grew up a torpedo punt away from Cramer Street, the spiritual home Congratulations to all the winners on a Liston Trophy night of the club, was awarded the Fothergill Round Medal. to remember. The Medal, in recognition of Des Fothergill and Barry We now look forward to revealing the Morrish Medal Round, the only two players to win a Brownlow Medal and winner, and various other TAC Cup competition award Liston Trophy, is awarded to a player aged 23 or younger winners this Sunday night at Etihad Stadium. with the potential to take his game to the AFL. Grant Williams All the indicators are that Lambert, who was one vote shy AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, David O’Neill, Anthony Stanguts, Justin Jenvey Design & Print: Cyan Press Visy Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Photos: AFL Photo’s (unless otherwise credited) GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams www.afl vic.com.au State League & Talent Manager: John Hook High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Cover photo: 2013 J.J. Liston Trophy winners Steve Clifton (North Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Ballarat), Mitch Hallahan (Box Hill Hawks) & Jordan Schroder (Geelong) Talent Operations Offi cer: Lauren Bunting www.vfl .com.au 1 MEDIA COVERAGE ABC TV Saturday September 7: Williamstown vs Port Melbourne - 2pm Sunday September 8: Casey Scorpions vs Werribee Tigers - 2pm Next Week: Saturday and Sunday Preliminary Final matches from 2pm Peter Jackson VFL Radio Saturday September 7: Williamstown vs Port Melbourne - 1:30pm Sunday September 8: Casey Scorpions vs Werribee Tigers - 1:30pm Live on Digital Radio via Aussie, Red Time Sport and SEN I-Phone Apps, online via vfl .com.au or sen.com.au and on Vision Australia Radio on 1179AM Next game: Saturday and Sunday Preliminary Final matches from 1:30pm Casey Radio Sunday September 8: Casey Scorpions vs Werribee Tigers - 1:30pm Tune to Casey Radio on 97.7FM or via www.caseyradio.com.au or the Tune In radio app SEN Sunday September 8 – Peter Jackson VFL review 9:05pm Thursday September 12 – The Peter Jackson VFL Show 8:30pm – 9pm Peter Jackson VFL Online Keep up to date with the Peter Jackson VFL via the following methods: Website: www.vfl .com.au @VFLnews #PJVFL www.facebook.com/vfl footy 2 www.afl vic.com.au J.J. LISTON TROPHY REVIEW J.J. LISTON TROPHY WINNERS It was a Liston Trophy night to remember, with three players sharing the Peter Jackson VFL’s premier individual award. TRIPLE dead-heats, let alone dead-heats, are a rarity in spending the previous two seasons on GWS’ list. any sport these days given technological advancement Clifton became the fi rst dual Liston Trophy winner in that can break down results to one-hundredth of second North Ballarat Football Club history. or a fl ared nostril of a horse or a greyhound. And, Clifton joined Alan Poore (1965/66), Laurie Hill It may have taken several minutes, but the judge was (1969/71), Vic AAnensen (1979/81), Billy Swan (1982/83), able to fi nd a margin to separate Dunaden and Red David Robbins (2000/03) and Shane Valenti (2010/11) as Cadeaux at the end of 2011 Melbourne Cup dual Liston Trophy winners. But at the end of the 2013 JJ Liston Trophy nothing could It was a memorable season for Clifton who notched his separate Stephen Clifton, Mitch Hallahan and Jordan 100th game for the Roosters, represented the VFL in a Schroder as the recipients of the VFL’s highest individual State match and was a shining light in what had been a honor. most disappointing season for North Ballarat. Clifton, Hallahan and Schroder were locked on 17 votes Schroder joined former Geelong premiership captain at the end of an epic count. James Byrne as the club’s only Liston victors. The latest Liston count sprung no end of surprises, twists It was a particularly impressive year for Schroder, who and turns that in true tradition of all the best medal next week plays his 50th game, having played just 11 counts went down to the last home and away season home and away games for the VFL Cats. round. He also became the youngest Liston Trophy winner since As it was the Liston Trophy result threw up a raft of Sam Mitchell, who was 19 when he claimed the Liston. storylines that now will be forever locked in competition Hallahan became just the fourth Liston Trophy winner history. in Box Hill history and the fi rst since Mitchell posted his For Clifton it was a stunning return to the VFL after extraordinary victory in 2002. Left to right, Hallahan, Schroder, Clifton. www.vfl .com.au 3 J.J. LISTON TROPHY REVIEW The stats Schroder – 11 games - played three games less than Hallahan and seven games less than Clifton, who played every game. Clifton polled in the most games – nine – where he collected three best-on-grounds, two sets of two and four single votes. Hallahan and Schroder received the same break-down of votes – four lots of three votes; two twos and one single. Interestingly, Hallahan did not poll a vote last season while Schroder gained one vote. TAC Cup pathway All three players are products of the TAC Cup. While Clifton came through the North Ballarat Rebels in 2005, Hallahan and Schroder, were both graduates from the 2010 year. Jordan Schroder Hallahan, a co-captain of Dandenong Stingrays with current Sydney Swan Luke Parker, was selected in the second round, No 38 overall, of the 2010 AFL Draft. Schroder, a member of the Calder Cannons 2010 premiership, was selected by Geelong in the third round, No 54 overall, of the 2010 AFL National Draft. Hallahan and Schroder both showcased their talent in the VFL this season to the point where they must be on the doorstep next year of playing regularly at AFL level. The vote count Without a clearly defi ned favorite, this year’s Liston Trophy was always there for the taking and that’s how the count panned out.