TAC CUP ROUND 8 MAY 24-25, 2014 CCountryountry ddefeatsefeats MMetroetro $3.00 OOakleighakleigh 222.6.1382.6.138 d SSandringhamandringham 99.6.60.6.60 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL The best of the VFL and TAC Cup on display State representative football has been a rivalry, a tradition and a highlight for a long time. The fi rst representative match the VFA played against South competition by attending the match Australia, its long-standing foe, dates back to 1905 when at Port Melbourne. Punt Road hosted the very fi rst match against these two Last weekend Vic Country began the NAB AFL U18 passionate football States. Championships with a win over rival Vic Metro, with the best While the regularity of State matches has fl uctuated over talent from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition on show. The time it still remains an eagerly anticipated fi xture, particularly Championships are a great opportunity for these players to for the playe rs fortunate enough to be selected. test themselves on the national stage, against the best talent Next week when the Peter Jackson VFL hosts the SANFL at from other states. Next weekend both sides head interstate Port Melbourne, the fi rst meeting between the two fi ercest of for round 2. State rivals since 2008. Next weekend also features the celebration of Indigenous Apart from the intense competitiveness between States, Round, highlighted by the Dream Time game at the ‘G’. representative football offers players and fans much more As a precursor to what is an undoubted highlight of the than bragging rights. football calendar, Richmond and Essendon’s VFL teams will Firstly, it allows players an opportunity to challenge play a match at Punt Road. themselves against their peers at, what for some, is the It will feature the respective clubs entering the ground with highest level the game offers them. students from the REAL program (delivered at the KGI at Punt It’s also unique to State League football as the traditional Road) followed by a welcome ceremony conducted by Aunty representative matches are currently not part of the AFL Joy Murphy and then the Didgeridoo played over the loud calendar, primarily due to its development into a national speakers before the game begins. competition. At half time there will be an opportunity for fans to try Signifi cantly, it also offers aspiring players the chance to Marngrook. impress AFL club recruiting scouts who will scrutinise the match as part of their preparation for the 2014 NAB AFL The Sir Doug Nicholls Award, voted on by the respective Drafts. coaches, will be awarded at a post-match ceremony. It will be presented by Aunty Pam, a daughter of Sir Doug. Included among the VFL team that played against WAFL last year and Tasmania the year before were Sam Lloyd, Sam Victorian football has much to celebrate on many fronts next Dwyer, Brett Goodes, Kyle Martin, Kyle Hartigan, Ben Ross, weekend. Leigh Osborne and Dean Towers who were all subsequently Just fi nally on a sad note, the football community lost one of drafted by AFL clubs. its own last week with the passing of legendary Richmond And, when the VFL last played the SANFL, Robin Nahas, who premiership coach Tom Hafey. Tom left a mark on all that is closing in on 100 AFL games, represented the VFL. he came in contact with and will remain in the memories of many football fans, be it from his coaching or appearances While the fi nal VFL squad is yet to be fi nalised, coach Damien Carroll and selectors have many talented VFL listed players at 100’s of club training nights over the years, imparting his at their disposal to ensure that the VFL team represents knowledge. His passion for the game will be missed. Our themselves, the competition and the State in the best condolences to the Hafey family from AFL Victoria. possible manner. Grant Williams It’s a great chance for all VFL and football fans to support the AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Anthony Stanguts, David O’Neill, Kate Mitchell 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: Rowan Marshall (Country) and Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Marc Pittonet (Metro) contest the centre bounce. Talent Operations Coordinator: Lauren Bunting www.taccup.com.au 1 MEDIA COVERAGE TAC CUP MEDIA COVERAGE Keep up to date with all the action from the TAC Cup via the following media coverage: TAC Cup Radio Tune in from 1:45pm for TAC Cup Radio. Join Phil Crooks, Rick Morris, Gabe Sorrentino and Paige Cardona as they bring you a weekly TAC Cup match throughout the season. Sunday May 25: Northern Knights vs Western Jets Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game (May 31): Western Jets vs Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Future Stars Join Craig Hutchinson and the team each Sunday from 1pm as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition on TAC Cup Future Stars on Channel 9 Tune in this Sunday May 25, 1pm on Channel 9. TAC Cup Online Keep up to date with the TAC Cup via the following methods: Website: www.taccup.com.au @TACCup www.facebook.com/taccupfooty TAC CUP RADIO TIPSTERS LW TOTAL LW TOTAL LW TOTAL LW TOTAL Paige Cardona 3 28 Rick Morris 4 27 Phil Crooks 4 25 Gabe Sorrentino 4 25 Geelong Falcons Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Geelong Falcons Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Sandringham Dragons Murray Bushrangers Murray Bushrangers Murray Bushrangers Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Calder Cannons Gippsland Power Gippsland Power North Ballarat Rebels North Ballarat Rebels Dandenong Stingrays Dandenong Stingrays Dandenong Stingrays Dandenong Stingrays Northern Knights Northern Knights Northern Knights Western Jets 2 www.afl vic.com.au NATIONAL CH AMPIONSHIPS Round 1 goes to Country After trailing at every break, a fi ve goal burst in the fi nal quarter from Vic Country set up a 15 point win over Vic Metro in the fi rst game of the 2014 NAB AFL U18 Championships. The long standing rivalry between the boys from the bush Caleb Marchbank marks for and the city ensured the big crowd at the Trevor Barker Vic Country Beach Oval was treated to a tight contest, with the lead changing multiple times throughout the game. Country set the tone early with good clearance work feeding their tall forward line; Patrick McCartin opened the scoring with a strong mark and goal. Metro were quick to respond with good ball movement and run through the middle setting up Peter Wright who kicked his fi rst. Metro broke the goal for goal trend with a major right before the siren and went into quarter time with a 10-point lead. With a strong northerly wind gusting down the ground, Country had the advantage in the second term, but it was Metro who had all the possession early, Angus Brayshaw with 19 fi rst half disposals running riot. Both teams struggled with entry into their forward 50, the wind making long kicks in hard to judge, with the defenders from both sides able to easily repel the ball back out. A free kick paid to Metro down fi eld put Darcy Moore 20 metres out in front of goal. Moore converted, breaking the scoring deadlock, extending Metro’s lead. Country then went on a scoring run with three goals in four Sherridan-Ferrie kicked four goals for Metro, while Brayshaw minutes. Darcy Parish, McCartin and Hugh Goddard all had fi nished with a game high 32 disposals, six marks and nine the scoreboard ticking over and reduced the defi cit to just inside 50’s. Matthew Goodyear another solid contributor for three points going into half time. Metro with 24 disposals and seven marks. Metro started the second half full of run, Rory Sherridan- In the trial game following the main match, it was Vic Metro Ferrie combined well with Wright who kicked his second victorious by 49 points, with a number of players from both goal for the match. Country wrestled the lead back through sides staking their claim for a spot in the fi nal squads of Goddard who took a strong pack mark and cleverly curved 40 which will be named for Vic Metro and Country prior to the ball through the goals from close to the boundary. Round 2 of the Championships. Two more goals to Country were quickly answered by Metro, Round 2 NAB AFL U18 Championships action will see Vic Sherridan- Ferrie showing his agility and fi nishing skills with Country take on South Australia in Adelaide (June 1) and Vic two goals for the quarter, his fourth goal for the game giving Metro playing Western Australia in Perth (May 31) in two Metro a seven point lead at three quarter time. weeks’ time. When Metro goaled with ease through Paul Ahern to start Round 1 NAB AFL U18 Championships the fi nal term it seemed they were poised to run away with the game. Country lifted their work rate and the momentum Vic Country 2.0 5.2 8.4 14.5 (89) shifted, all of a sudden it was all Country.