TAC CUP ROUND 7 MAY 18, 2013 $3.00 PPowerower rreturneturn ttoo wwinninginning fformorm DDandenongandenong SStingraystingrays 113.9.873.9.87 d MMurrayurray BBushrangersushrangers 55.7.37.7.37 Photos: Kim O’Sullivan Photography GGippslandippsland PPowerower 118.11.1198.11.119 d NNorthernorthern KKnightsnights 33.5.23.5.23 Give exit fees the boot. And lock-in contracts the hip and shoulder. AlintaAlinta EnerEnergy’sgy’s Fair GGoo 1155 • NoNo lock-inlock-in contractscontracts • No exitexit fees • 15%15% off your electricity usageusage* forfor as lonlongg as you continue to be on this planplan 18001800 46 2525 4646 alintaenergy.com.aualintaenergy.com.au *15% off your electricity usage based on Alinta Energy’s published Standing Tariffs for Victoria. Terms and conditionsconditions apply.apply. NNotot avaavailableilable wwithith sosolar.lar. EDITORIAL Around the grounds Each week we will take a look at some of the news and honours for his work as a medium defender. He was also an views from around the TAC Cup. AIS-AFL Academy member. VLASTUIN A RISING STAR NOMINEE Following each round of the home and away season, a Former Northern Knights player Nick Vlastuin was this panel of judges will select a NAB AFL Rising Star nominee. week announced as the Round Seven NAB AFL Rising Star At the completion of the season, one of these nominees nominee. will be chosen as the 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star. Playing in just his third AFL match for the Richmond Vlastuin is the third former TAC Cup player to be nominated Football Club, Vlastuin collected 23 disposals, including this season, following on from Ollie Wines (Bendigo 11 marks and a goal, in Richmond’s 41-point win over Port Pioneers) and Aaron Mullett (Eastern Ranges) in the Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last Saturday. opening rounds of the season. Vlastuin was the Tiger’s fi rst round draft pick in the 2012 The 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star winner will be awarded the NAB AFL Draft, taken with pick 9 overall. Ron Evans Medal and a $20,000 personal investment folio Richmond Senior Coach Damien Hardwick said: “Nick has and a dedicated personal banker, courtesy of NAB. been excellent since arriving at the Club. His dedication to KNIGHTS HIT THE ROAD training, and his commitment to learning and fi nding ways Last Round, the Northern Knights players & parents to improve his game, is a real credit to him.” engaged in their TAC Driving Activity, whereby Learner “We’ve been really Drivers drove to an away game. The drivers drove from impressed with the the Northern Suburbs along the Western Ring Road and impact he’s had at Princes Highway to Simonds Stadium, Geelong. There was senior level in the a designated ‘pit stop’ along the way (BP Service Station, past few weeks. We Lara) where the drivers took a break before the rest of the look forward to him journey. Northern Knights Talent Manager Peter Kennedy having a long and said all the players were able to take something away from successful career at the drive. “We found it to be a valuable exercise, as our Tigerland. players gained over an hour’s driving experience in varied Prior to being conditions along city streets and country highways. selected at pick nine “We thank our parents who fully supported this TAC in the 2012 NAB Initiative of our players gaining further experience behind AFL Draft, Vlastuin the wheel.” Captained Vic Metro in the 2012 Extensive research shows that by gaining valuable driving NAB AFL Under-18 practice as a Learner in a range of different driving Championships and conditions, young drivers can reduce their risk of crashing won All-Australian by up to a third. Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Dave O’Neill, Gabe Sorrentino, Design & Print: Cyan Press Photos: AFL Photo’s (unless otherwise credited) Visy Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 AFL Victoria General Manager: Grant Williams Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 www.afl vic.com.au State League & Talent Manager: John Hook High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Cover photo: Gippsland Powers Brett Waddell Talent Operations Coordinator: Sophie Timms Talent Operations Offi cer: 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 12:45pm for the TAC Cup Radio match of the week. Join Phil Crooks, Rick Morris and Gabe Sorrentino as they bring you a weekly TAC Cup match throughout the season. Saturday May 18 – Northern Knights vs North Ballarat Rebels, 12:45pm Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game: Bendigo Pioneers vs Geelong Falcons TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars is back on Channel 9 for season 2013. Join Craig Hutchinson, Kevin Sheehan, Terry Wallace and Drew Petrie as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Tune in this Sunday May 19, at 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 #taccup www.facebook.com/taccupfooty 2 www.afl vic.com.au MATTHEW BOAG Move forward helps Boag shine IT has been a roller-coast ride the past two seasons the midfi elders and with plenty of space on a big ground for Matthew Boag, one of the stars in Geelong Falcons liked Simonds, it helped a lot.” unbeaten start to the year. Boag acknowledged that he needed to work on his fi tness After being overlooked for Falcons’ pre-season training, to maintain a midfi eld spot for the talent-laden Falcons. Boag started the 2012 season playing in the seniors for “I’ve just been working with the team and doing the team Torquay in the Bellarine Football League. things,” Boag said. Boag averaged close to fi ve goals a game through the “The goals and possessions come along after that, we fi rst seven games before the Falcons asked him to join its really have a good team focus.” squad. And, that goes a long way to explaining Geelong’s best He played seven TAC Cup games, won a spot to for Vic start to a season for many years. Country in the Futures game as well as pre-season season training for the 2013 season. Boag said everyone – defenders, midfi elders and forwards - had contributed to the Falcons’ 5-0 start, but noted the The benefi t of a full pre-season has seen Boag not only season is still in its infancy and much hard work still had make an impression for Geelong, but also seen him invited to be done to try out for the Vic Country team at the upcoming NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. He’s hoping he can force his way into the Vic Country squad and that would afford him another highlight given Falcons’ Talent Manager Mick Turner likened Boag to where he came from at the start of the 2012 season. former Geelong player Ben Cunnington. “He’s done a full pre-season this year and he’s done really well up to this stage,” Turner said. “He’s a big, strong kid with a body like Ben Cunnington. He’s very hard to compete against.” Boag tweaked an ankle in a Vic Country intra trial match last month, missed a match and when he returned Falcons’ coach Andrew Allthorpe decided to play him up forward against Northern Knights. He responded by kicking fi ve goals in a game where he amassed 23 possessions, took nine marks and laid three tackles to be named best player in the TAC Cup Coaches Award. “Initially, I thought it was broken, but luckily I only missed one week. I was stoked as it allowed me to play on Skilled Stadium,” Boag said. “I got on the end of some hard work from www.taccup.com.au 3 NAB AFL U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS NAB AFL U18 Championship squads The fi nal squads have been announced for Vic Country and Vic Metro for the upcoming NAB AFL U18 Championships. VIC COUNTRY VIC METRO Jaden McGrath Bendigo Pioneers Jason Cooke Calder Cannons Isaiah Miller Bendigo Pioneers Jake Lever Calder Cannons Jake Maher Bendigo Pioneers Jake Owen Calder Cannons Clayton McCartney Dandenong Stingrays Reilly O’Brien Calder Cannons Billy Hartung Dandenong Stingrays Touk Miller Calder Cannons Zak Jones Dandenong Stingrays Ben Cavarra Eastern Ranges Josh Pickess Dandenong Stingrays Mitchell Honeychurch Eastern Ranges James Harmes Dandenong Stingrays Nick Evans Eastern Ranges Daniel Capiron Dandenong Stingrays Mitchell Keedle Eastern Ranges Tom Lamb Dandenong Stingrays Christian Petracca Eastern Ranges Brady Egan Dandenong Stingrays Jordan Walker Eastern Ranges Josh Maishman Geelong Falcons Joseph Fisher Eastern Ranges Lewis Taylor Geelong Falcons Daniel McStay Eastern Ranges Darcy Lang Geelong Falcons Michael Apeness Eastern Ranges Nicholas Bourke Geelong Falcons Thomas Boyd Eastern Ranges James Tsitas Geelong Falcons Jesse Tardio Northern Knights Jackson Nelson Geelong Falcons Hugh Curnow Northern Knights Darcy Gardiner Geelong Falcons Ben Lennon Northern Knights Fraser Fort Geelong Falcons Marcus Bontempelli Northern Knights Jye Cross Geelong Falcons Cameron Conlon Northern Knights Patrick McCartin Geelong Falcons Jay Kennedy-Harris Oakleigh Chargers Hugh Goddard Geelong Falcons Darcy Byrne-Jones Oakleigh Chargers Alex Saunders Gippsland Power Jack Billings Oakleigh Chargers Jordan Cunico Gippsland Power Aiden Franetic Oakleigh Chargers Josh Cashman Gippsland Power Lewis Fitzgerald Oakleigh Chargers Lukas Webb Gippsland Power Tom Cutler Oakleigh Chargers Ben Kearns Gippsland Power Angus Milham Oakleigh Chargers Josh Scott Gippsland Power Will Maginness Oakleigh Chargers Aaron Heppell Gippsland