TAC CUP ROUND 7 MAY 9-11, 2014 CCannonsannons oonn ttopop $3.00 CCalderalder CCannonsannons 113.5.833.5.83 d MMurrayurray BBushrangersushrangers 44.9.33.9.33 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL The People’s Game When Gillon McLachlan was recently appointed as the new CEO of the AFL, he spoke passionately about the importance, value and fabric of the game. McLachlan noted signifi cantly how the game is that Moorabbin Oval will be intrinsically linked to people, to communities, to towns redeveloped into a community and cities. football hub. And, that’s certainly true of the VFL with its reach, appeal, Football in Melbourne’s southeast affordability and connection with the footy fan. Basically, will benefi t signifi cantly from the funding allocated in the it’s tailored so everyone can enjoy our great game. 2014/15 Victorian State Budget, which will result in a AFL Victoria, along with the VFL clubs, strive to ensure new headquarters for football that services about 15,000 that the VFL competition is accessible and caters for players, their families as well the volunteers that support everyone who wants to watch high-quality State League these clubs. level football from close range, and to see the players It will also be the cornerstone of the region’s talent that will be the future stars of the AFL competition and participation pathways by catering for football develop and improve. development programs including NAB AFL Auskick, school It’s that promotion and accessibility to the players and football, women’s football and AFL 9s through to coaching coaches at the quarter and three-time huddle, kick to kick and volunteer education. on the ground at the breaks, the grass roots “elbows on the fence” feel that adds just another dimension to the AFL Victoria has been chairing a working party with the Peter Jackson VFL. key stakeholders, including the local community leagues, the AFL, St Kilda Football Club and the Kingston Council, You can also do this within the TAC Cup competition. to collaboratively plan for the revitalisation of the There is no charge for entry and you can gain a sneak Moorabbin Community Reserve. preview of players that will be stars of the future and the prodigious talent that exists in Victorian underage As part of the multi-million dollar redevelopment of football. Moorabbin, the Sandringham Dragons, the Southern Many clubs in the Peter Jackson VFL have worked Football League and the South Melbourne Junior League extremely hard in recent years to implement various will be all based at Moorabbin. community engagement programs, not only because Included in the redevelopment will be an extensive this is the right thing to do, but it provides them the refurbishment of the facilities to bring them up to best opportunity to play a broader leadership role in their possible standards, which will allow St Kilda to use the communities. venue as its home base when it fi elds a stand-alone team A welcoming, inclusive, safe, family friendly, affordable in the Peter Jackson VFL in 2016. and entertaining environment is something every club Also, light towers, which have stood inoperable for years, should strive for. Undoubtedly, on fi eld success will will be reconnected paving the way for possible night follow. football at Moorabbin. Last weekend there was a further example of how Enjoy your VFL & TAC Cup football this weekend. AFL Victoria is working to improve the game for participants and those directly involved in leagues, Grant Williams clubs and communities, with the joint announcement 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: Josh Cauchi, Calder Cannons Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen 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 7:45pm 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. Friday May 9: Geelong Falcons vs Calder Cannons Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game (May 25): Northern Knights vs Western Jets TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars will return to Channel 9 on Sunday May 11. Join Craig Hutchinson and the team as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Returns: This Sunday May 11, 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 6 25 Rick Morris 6 23 Phil Crooks 6 21 Gabe Sorrentino 6 21 Geelong Falcons Geelong Falcons Geelong Falcons Geelong Falcons Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Oakleigh Chargers Murray Bushrangers Murray Bushrangers Murray Bushrangers Murray Bushrangers Northern Knights Northern Knights Northern Knights Northern Knights Western Jets Western Jets Western Jets Western Jets Dandenong Stingrays Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Eastern Ranges Gippsland Power Gippsland Power Gippsland Power Gippsland Power 2 www.afl vic.com.au TORIN BAKER No second year blues for Baker In his fi rst year as head coach of the Western Jets, Torin Baker wanted his team to be competitive. His holistic approach to the role, developing the person as challenges of the role, managing 50 players and about 20 well as the footballer, struck a chord with his playing group to 30 staff. and competitive they were. “Managing that amount of people takes an enormous The Jets made the fi nals series in 2013 off the back of a amount of time. I think I am getting better with it with solid season, surprising a few observers with some of their more experience and I really value the position that I wins along the way. have.” With a year’s worth of TAC Cup experience under his belt, He admits that it hasn’t been an easy start to the season Baker’s desire to build on last season and improve shines this year for the Jets. through. “We didn’t really have our full squad to choose from early “I think as a coach in the TAC Cup you are learning every (due to injuries) so it was a slow start for us. game and you continue to learn all the way through,” “We had some really tough opposition to play early on. Baker said. Playing Sandringham, Calder and Oakleigh all in the fi rst With a playing career that included time at Werribee in the three rounds certainly tested our boys.” VFL, St Joseph’s in the Geelong Football League (winning Consecutive 40 and 46-point losses in the fi rst two rounds the league best and fairest in 2007), a playing coach role will test any coach’s resolve. But from those loses came at Camperdown in the Hampden Football League and a plenty of learnings. Ever the optimist, Baker continued to premiership with Spotswood in 2011, Baker certainly has a instil his core values across the team through his positive vast degree of football experience. messaging and feedback. But his role at the Jets has also given him a whole new It was in the seven point loss to Oakleigh Chargers that experience and skill set. Baker began to see a marked improvement across his “It’s just been a great experience in terms of managing a playing group. whole group of people. That is probably one of the biggest “We were really pleased with the effort the players were giving. Even though we didn’t win the Oakleigh match it was a real turning point for our season. “We have been able to get a better mix of players through some injuries recovering and I have been really pleased since the Oakleigh game,” Baker said. The Jets have gone on to defeat Northern Territory by a whopping 122-points, Dandenong by 3-points in a thriller and Gippsland by 36-points in a dominant display to have them sitting 5th on the TAC Cup ladder. What has pleased Baker the most is the across the board contributions from www.taccup.com.au 3 TORIN BAKER his players, with everyone playing their role in a true team effort. “When certain players haven’t played well, other players have stood up and played really well. “One player that has been really consistent over the time is Connor Menadue, his season whether we have been going well or are up against it has been outstanding.” An athletic half back fl anker, Menadue has been named in the Jets best players numerous times already this season and is one of the eight Jets players in the initial Vic Metro squad for the NAB AFL U18 National Championships. Baker also points out Corey Ellis as another player that’s had a great start to the year, but who the Jets now lose due to his school football commitments.