PEDER WHELAN NATHAN BATSANIS KYLE MATTHEWS VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD jPod. James Podsiadly in tune for 150-game milestone. ROUND 7 MAY 17-18, 2008 $ INC EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE 3 GST Congratulations to GREG TIVENDALE (Coburg Tigers) This week’s winner of the Ford “Best on Ground” Ute Visit theoval.com.au for more information. theoval.com.au EDITORIAL The Victorian State Government has provided a ringing Funding endorsement of the VFL, announcing a $10 million redevelopment package in secures future the state budget. Eight VFL venues will share $10 million revamp for VFL venues the $10 million, which will be used to upgrade their facilities important for the game’s future pavilion, improve its lighting and and amenities, which will, in turn, that they have the necessary assist the council to replace the benefit players and the community. infrastructure for the players. concrete fence along its ground’s On the back of Australian Thankfully, the government Beach Road side. Football’s 150 Years celebrations, supported the initiative. AFL Victoria will communicate it is a great result for Victorian When the commitment of the with the clubs to ensure plans are football and in particular the VFL. AFL, AFL Victoria, individual VFL ready and everyone is committed Clearly, the government’s clubs and local councils is added to to the funded projects. It is hoped investment will help ensure the the government package there will the works can begin before the future viability of clubs while be a substantial influx of money to end of this financial year. delivering better sporting facilities the infrastructure of VFL grounds. Congratulations to Gavin for the local community. For example, Williamstown’s Brown, the VFL Collingwood In seeking funding for VFL historic Point Gellibrand ground coach, for his induction into the venues, the AFL and AFL Victoria will receive a $3 million injection Australian Football Hall Of Fame. had to demonstrate there would that will deliver more public It’s another endorsement of be benefits not only to football, but seating, while its heritage-listed the VFL that it numbers two Hall also to the community. grandstand will be redeveloped Of Fame members, Brown and The funding will not only with a new social room and new Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres, help VFL clubs become more changerooms. among its coaching fraternity. economically sustainable, it will Box Hill will receive $600,000 Certainly, it’s been a big few also ensure there is a clearly to develop a function room on top weeks in more ways than one defined and structured pathway of its existing changerooms, and for the VFL. that will stimulate participation and will also upgrade its coach’s boxes nurture talented young footballers. and canteen. John Hook These VFL clubs are the hubs And Sandringham will use Football Operations Manager, of each talent region and it is its allocated funds to extend its AFL Victoria PEDER WHELAN NATHAN BATSANIS KYLE MATTHEWS AFL Victoria Chief Executive Officer: VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND 7 Peter Schwab CONTENTS MAY 17-18, 2008 Football Operations Manager: RECORD John Hook Aaron Cornelius 5 COVER: Werribee Tigers Statistics: Sam Coen Manager Director, Geoff Slattery Publishing: James Podsiadly 6 spearhead James Podsiadly Geoff Slattery Editor: Nick Bowen Peder Whelan 7 will be hoping for another bag Designer: Karl Chandler jPod. Photo Manager: Natalie Boccassini Bullants’ proud history 9 James Podsiadly of goals to celebrate his 150th in tune for Photography: Getty Images (02) 9004 2250 150-game milestone. game against Frankston. Advertising: Jennifer Pryor (03) 8663 3007 Nathan Batsanis 11 Printed by: Condor Printing Address correspondence: The Editor, GPO Jarrod Atkinson 14 Box 4337, Melbourne, 3001. EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE ROUND 7 MAY 17-18, 2008 $3 Phone: (03) 8663 3000 Digby Morell 21 VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD 3 We make it easier to go green. 10% wind power at no extra cost. You don’t need to change your life much to help save the If you’re keen to help in other ways, the TRUenergy environment. Simply switch to a TRUenergy Go Green website provides an energy audit calculator and energy electricity plan, which offers 10% wind power at no efficiency tips which help you reduce your energy use extra cost, plus a 3% discount if you pay by the due date. and minimise your impact on the environment. Or if you’re happy to pay a bit more, TRUenergy has a To find out more, call 1800 005 937 (8am to 6.30pm range of different plans, with up to 100% wind power. Monday to Friday) or visit truenergy.com.au/gogreen TRUenergy Pty Ltd. ABN 99 086 014 968. TRU0131 VFL 28x5.indd 1 11/4/08 2:15:06 PM AARON CORNELIUS Casey Scorpions coach Greg Cornelius an introduction to the Hutchison left Bellerive Oval Choosing VFL late last year to help him gain last month disappointed his a feel of the competition. side had lost but convinced In one of those matches, he had seen a potential top-10 the Devil Cornelius played on Mitch Thorpe, draft prospect. Cornelius flagged a Tasmanian who was Hawthorn’s After watching teenager first selection at the 2006 NAB Aaron Cornelius kick four as top-10 draft pick AFL National Draft. Cornelius held goals to catapult Tasmania to him to one goal. a 19-point win over his side, All- Australian team and gained an “He was one of the players Hutchison had no doubt the AIS-AFL Academy scholarship. I had in my plans for 2008 right Devils key forward would be During its tour to South from the end of last season,” on an AFL list next season. Africa, the Academy squad Cresswell said. “He’s a top-10 draft pick for played against a hybrid team Cornelius missed the round sure,” Hutchison said. from Perth. Cornelius played on six match against North Ballarat “He was simply outstanding Fremantle’s Michael Johnson and because he was representing against us. He’s got great most observers agreed he did Tasmania in the qualifying rounds hands, is very good overhead, extremely well. for the NAB AFL Under-18 attacks the ball. There’s a lot Tasmania coach Daryn Championships. His availability in to like about him.” Cresswell is more tempered in his the coming weeks will depend on Hutchinson is not alone in assessment, but acknowledges the success of the Tassie Mariners, his assessment. Cornelius oozes talent. who Cornelius co-captains. Cornelius, 17, created such an “He may have the best pair of While he may be a name impression at last year’s NAB AFL hands I’ve seen,” Cresswell said. on most recruiters’ lips, Cornelius Under-18 Championships that he But Cresswell was quick to is not getting too far ahead was named point out Cornelius has several of himself. full- deficiencies that he needs to work The Year 12 student was “really forward on. He said Cornelius had been enjoying” playing in the VFL and in the inconsistent this season, but that said it was “a bit of a thrill” to play was expected given it was his first on “blokes that you see the next full season against mature- week on TV playing in the AFL”. aged players. “It’s all pretty exciting,” Cresswell Cornelius said. said he gave And, for that matter, so is Aaron Cornelius. Tasmania’s Aaron Cornelius, 17, is an outstanding key- forward prospect. VICTORIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE RECORD 55 JAMES PODSIADLY The AFL’s loss Podsiadly 150 and still going strong Ask Werribee coach and former 10-year AFL player Simon Atkins JAMES PODSIADLY why James Podsiadly didn’t Age: 26 Clubs: Essendon, Williamstown, get the chance to play AFL and Werribee he can’t explain it. Games: 149 Goals: 308 Atkins, who played with Honours: Werribee captain Footscray and Fitzroy, said some 2007-08; Werribee best and fairest recruiters claimed Podsiadly was 2005; Frosty Miller medallist 2005; VFL representative player 2005, a one-dimensional forward. 2007; VFL Team Of The Year In the lead-up to Podsiadly’s 2005-06. 150th VFL game this weekend, Atkins said it was a criticism he He is particularly proud of did not accept. representing Victoria in 2005 and “There’s plenty of blokes at 2007, and would dearly love to pull AFL (level) making good money on the Big V again when Victoria at being a forward,” Atkins said. travels to Adelaide later this month “He (Podsiadly) has got power, to tackle South Australia. he’s got strength, he’s quick, takes Playing for Werribee also a pack mark and usually his goal means a lot to Podsiadly as he conversion is really good. demonstrated when he turned “I just don’t know. If he had down a big-money offer from an been taken as an older-age SANFL club several seasons ago. footballer, the club would have “‘Pods’ showed a lot of faith been rewarded for it. in our football club and hopefully But Podsiadly, previously we can give something back to rookie-listed by Essendon and him,” Atkins said. Collingwood, doesn’t get bogged Atkins said Podsiadly was one down in what-if scenarios. of those rare players who could He’s enjoyed his time in the change the course of a game on VFL, especially at Werribee, where his own – as he showed against his legend continues to grow. the Northern Bullants in round five. “I had my chance and it wasn’t But Podsiadly is still hoping to me,” Podsiadly said. “I’m pretty add several more chapters to his Werribee happy with what I’m doing outside VFL career, beginning with helping spearhead football, I feel I’ve been lucky.” Werribee return to the finals.