VFL ROUND 2 APRIL 13-14, 2013 $3.00 PPromisingromising ssignsigns fforor CCoburgoburg CCoburgoburg 118.13.1218.13.121 d SSandringhamandringham 113.11.893.11.89 Photos: Dave Savell CCollingwoodollingwood 116.11.1076.11.107 d NNorthorth BBallaratallarat 66.19.55.19.55 If you speed, you’re in for a tough game. EDITORIAL Peter Jackson VFL talent on show SEASON 2013 is only in its infancy, but already it’s reinforced the relevance of the Victorian talented player pathway. Already, we have witnessed four of the nine VFL players recruiting ground with players selected at the various drafts last year make their AFL ready to take an immediate step debuts. up in their careers. More signifi cantly, they have made an impression at the Over the past four seasons there has been 46 players either game’s elite level. selected at the AFL National, pre-season or Rookie Drafts, Sam Dwyer, a 100 game and premiership player with Port but more impressively 32 of those players have played at Melbourne, and Brett Goodes, also a 100 game player and least one AFL game. North Ballarat premiership player, have underscored the relevance of the VFL in providing mature age players an Before the current season is over that telling percentage is opportunity to progress and succeed. likely to increase further, with the other fi ve players drafted Dwyer and Goodes, both VFL State representatives, have last year all pushing for AFL selection. been long-standing top-tier VFL player just looking for an AFL club to give them a chance. Not only has the VFL become a productive harvest at Draft time, but AFL clubs don’t have an issue with star players And, it’s also worth noting that two former VFL players, using the competition as part of their comeback process. Port Melbourne’s Callum Sinclair and Williamstown’s Dane Rampe, have also played their fi rst AFL games this season. Already this season we have seen Hawthorn captain Luke Interestingly, a total of 30 ex-VFL players, spread over 15 Hodge, Collingwood premiership players Dale Thomas and AFL clubs, played in the AFL Round 2 matches. Alan Didak as well as Geelong triple premiership player Joel Corey all playing in the VFL. Included in the number is Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell, Hawthorn premiership captain Sam Mitchell and Quite apart from producing an ever-increasing number of Sydney premiership ruckman Shane Mumford. AFL players, the standard of the VFL continues to soar as Maxwell is not the only current AFL captain whose football AFL clubs have become more and more comfortable that roots trace back to the VFL. Western Bulldogs skipper the VFL offers a benefi cial outcome for everyone – even Matthew Boyd is a former Frankston player. its stars. It’s an ever increasing number, which highlights that VFL It highlights the pivotal role the VFL plays in the talented players, thanks to the unique mix of AFL and VFL players playing together in the one competition, can make a player pathway. seamless transition to the game’s highest level. Grant Williams More and more AFL clubs are viewing the VFL as a fertile AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Dave O’Neill, Damian Tardio, Catherine Durkin 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: Orren Stephenson (right) in the ruck for Coburg Talent Operations Coordinator: Sophie Timms against Sandringham (Photo: Dave Savell) Talent Operations Offi cer: Lauren Bunting www.vfl .com.au 1 MEDIA COVERAGE ABC TV Saturday April 13: Williamstown vs Coburg – 1pm Next Week: Geelong vs Box Hill Hawks Peter Jackson VFL Radio Sunday April 14: Frankston vs Port Melbourne – From 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 week: Williamstown vs Werribee Tigers 3WBC Saturday April 13: Essendon vs Box Hill Hawks – 1pm Listen to 94.1 FM or online at www.3wbc.org.au Next week: Geelong vs Box Hill Hawks SEN Sunday April 14 – Peter Jackson VFL review 9:05pm Thursday April 18 – 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 BEN DUSCHER Duscher leads Bombers new start BEN Duscher talks excitedly about the opportunity to play Shinners, Josh Freezer comes on board as does Michael for a new club, albeit one whose origins date back to the Sikora, an emerging ruckman who played with Sandringham 19th century. last season. Not only will he play for the new side, but he will also co- While Little will not play, he said the depth of the list, both captain the Bombers with former Demon Matthew Bate. AFL and VFL, set a foundation for the club to build. For the past 10 years, Essendon has been aligned with “It gives you the depth you need in your VFL list and Bendigo, but this season reverts to a stand-alone club just experience and leadership that is going to help the young like it was back when the VFL was revamped at the turn of Essendon players improve,” Little said. this century. “If you look at Geelong’s model the past fi ve or six years, While many of the AFL Listed and VFL listed players have their VFL list is pretty experienced and they’ve always been a connection from the Bendigo Bombers/Gold, Duscher very competitive. described the environment of the new club as “amazing”. “And, that’s something that we want. You want to develop “Now that we have everyone under the one umbrella, we the young Essendon guys, but in the frame work of a train together and there is no travel issue - it is just one winning culture. group it makes everything so much easier,” Duscher said. “Hopefully, with the experience and quality of players After co-captaining Bendigo Gold for the past two seasons, we’ve been able to get it will hold us in good stead to be Duscher said living and working nearby Windy Hill made it a competitive.” logistically easy decision to join the new entity. “It just made sense and Essendon is a great club and I wanted to stay part of it, particularly because of the boys that are involved. It has a great culture and I wanted to be part of that environment,” he said. “It’s defi nitely exciting times to be involved in something new going forward. You get the chance to write a piece of the new club’s history.” While there are no givens in football, Duscher said Essendon had the mix of experience and talented youth to make an impact right from the get-go. “I think we are going to be a competitive and exciting FAST FACTS team to watch,” he promised. BEN DUSCHER Former ‘Frosty’ Miller medalist Matthew Little, who now AGE: 25 heads up Essendon’s VFL Football Operations, said recruiting experienced players like Duscher, ex-Demon Bate and Gold CLUBS: Bendigo, Essendon Coast Suns Josh Toy, former Geelong VFL captain Matthew Firman and Bendigo Gold co-captain Trent Shinners was GAMES: 36 imperative for the club to make an immediate statement. GOALS: 36 Little, who kicked 370 goals during his time at Box Hill Hawks, Williamstown and Bendigo Gold, said retaining HIGHLIGHTS: Bendigo co-captain 2011-12; some players from the Bendigo alignment was one of the Bendigo best & fairest winner 2011; fi rst steps. co-captain Essendon 2013 Apart from last season’s Bendigo co-captains Duscher and www.vfl .com.au 3 Prevention is better than cure so protect yourself against injury with the Elastoplast Sport range of sports medicine products. Exclusively used by The Australian Institute of Sport and many other elite sports clubs across Australia and New Zealand.Zealaalalaand.and. s Rigid Strapping Tapes s Mouthguards s Elastic Adhesive Bandages s Hot/Cold Packs For all your Sports Medicine needs. Available from pharmacy, sports medicine wholesalers and supermarkets. OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF TAPES, BANDAGES & WOUNDCARE PRODUCTS TO THE 2012 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM 4 www.afl vic.com.au Supporting your Passion LUKE WEBSTER Webster new Blues coach WHEN the coaching position at Northern Blues became available Luke Webster didn’t hesitate to put up his hand. Webster, whose AFL career was effectively ended by a succession of knee reconstructions, knew what the VFL Blues program entailed through his role as Carlton development coach. During his time with Carlton he had worked with all the young Carlton players who spent time with the Northern Blues and last year he served as the defensive coach. It allowed him to also get a feel for the Northern Blues VFL players and how everything worked at VFL level. “After I fi nished playing, I sat with a few different people and worked out a pathway of stuff that I wanted to do and one of them was look at “They are pretty much our leadership group and they the coaching side of things,” drive it and make sure the bond between the VFL and AFL players is really strong.