VFL ROUND 1 SPLIT ROUND APRIL 5-7, 2013 11- goal haul for Warren $3.00 Werribee Tigers 25.9.159 d Port Melbourne 12.15.87 AFL VICTORIA CORPORATE PARTNERS NAMING RIGHTS PREMIER PARTNERS OFFICIAL PARTNERS APPROVED LICENSEES EDITORIAL Welcome to season 2013 WELCOME to the dawn of a new season, one fi lled with excitement, unbridled enthusiasm, dreams and aspirations for TAC Cup and Peter Jackson VFL players alike. Just like all new seasons it comes with challenges, both TAC Cup players accounted for 55 expected and unforeseen, to test and drive players as they per cent of those selected in the strive to maximize and showcase their talent. NAB AFL Draft with eight of the And, that’s one of the beauties of football, especially in fi rst 10 players chosen in the AFL such a unique competition as the VFL which weekly pits Draft being TAC Cup graduates; a total of 13 fi rst round AFL listed and rookie players against VFL listed players - selections came from the TAC Cup and 28 off the 33 TAC the ability to rise and meet such challenges. Cup players selected came through either the AFL Victoria country or metropolitan academies. Season 2013 brings with it two new clubs to the Peter Jackson VFL competition – Bendigo Gold and Essendon - As has become a recurring theme in recent seasons, the who will each fi eld stand-alone clubs in the now 14-club VFL once again offered players a legitimate pathway to competiton. the AFL with nine players reaching an AFL club through the We also introduce to the competition and wish well the various drafts. fi ve new VFL coaches – Aussie Jones (Bendigo Gold), AFL Victoria is proud to welcome back its naming rights Rohan Welsh (Casey Scorpions), Tim Clarke (Dale Tapping sponsor for the VFL Peter Jackson – the state’s premier (Collingwood) and Luke Webster (Northern Blues). menswear business. This year we will also feature a stand-alone VFL Record, The local Victorian arm of Toyota joins AFL Victoria as does giving you the reader more VFL specifi c content on a weekly Alinta Energy while Dairy Australia will again sponsor basis. the fi nal series with ABC continuing its splendid Saturday Geelong enter the season as the reigning Peter Jackson match-of-the-day coverage. VFL premiers following its epic grand fi nal success over Port Melbourne, but football brings with it no guarantees For the 22nd consecutive season the Transport Accident and 13 clubs have their sights sets on wresting away from Commission – TAC – continues its marvelous and valued Geelong the competition’s most cherished possession – the partnership with the TAC Cup competition. premiership cup. Partnerships both on and off the fi eld are imperative to Victoria’s talented player pathway continues to excel the continued development and growth of Victoria as the as evidenced by the impact Victorian players had in the premier football state in the country. various AFL Drafts late last year. AFL Victoria wishes everyone all the best for what promises th Signifi cantly, the 1000 player from the TAC Cup over it 21 to be yet another memorable VFL and TAC Cup season. year history was among last year’s draftees. It’s a stunning achievement, one which everyone associated with the Grant Williams competition should feel justifi ably proud. AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, Dave O’Neill, Kate Gurney, Nick Duxson 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: Werribee Tigers’ Ben Warren kicking one of Talent Operations Coordinator: Sophie Timms his 11-goals last weekend against Port Melbourne Talent Operations Offi cer: Lauren Bunting www.vfl .com.au 1 MEDIA COVERAGE ABC TV Saturday April 6: Collingwood vs North Ballarat – 1pm Next Week: Williamstown vs Coburg VFL Radio Friday April 5: Bendigo vs Essendon Sunday April 7: Coburg vs Sandringham – From 1:30pm Live on Digital Radio via Aussie, Red Time Sport and SEN iPhone Apps, online via vfl .com.au or sen.com.au and on Vision Australia Radio Next week: Sandringham vs Geelong 3WBC Sunday April 7: Box Hill Hawks vs Port Melbourne – 1pm Listen to 94.1 FM or online at www.3wbc.org.au Next week: Essendon vs Box Hill Hawks SEN Sunday April 7 – Peter Jackson VFL review 9:05pm Thursday April 11 – The Peter Jackson VFL Show 8:30pm – 9pm 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 PREVIEW PETER JACKSON VFL SEASON PREVIEW SEASON 2013 has a different, exciting look and feel Brett Goodes, Jack Frost and Matt Jones were selected about it for a host of reasons. at one of the NAB AFL Drafts late last year and now fi nd themselves embarking on a new chapter of their Yes, there is two new clubs; Essendon and Bendigo football careers. Gold. Then there’s the addition of some familiar names Essendon will revert to a stand-alone club for the from AFL experiences, others from interstate, country fi rst time in a decade and Bendigo Gold, without the and metropolitan competitions and not to mention a Essendon affi liation, is also a stand-alone club. battalion of TAC Cup graduates. And, with Essendon standing alone it means Windy Geelong defends its premiership won after an epic Hill, the Bombers traditional home ground, will become encounter with Port Melbourne in a riveting Grand a more permanent fi xture for opposing clubs. Final. It gives the Peter Jackson VFL a 14-club competition for Both clubs will fi eld vastly different teams this season, the fi rst time since 2010 and with it a home and away so, too, those clubs who have aspirations of reaching season without enforced byes. the 2013 Peter Jackson VFL Grand Final, which will The season also dawns with a sea of new faces. once again be Powered by Milk. Many VFL greats like North Ballarat premiership As is the case when each season starts, everyone begins on a level footing. player and captain Marc Greig have retired and Port Melbourne premiership player Stephen Brewer has With the torturous demands of pre-season behind dropped back to local football. them, everyone is enthusiastically looking to the bounce of the ball to signal the start to the new season. Other stars like Sam Dwyer, Kyle Martin, Leigh Osborne, Dylan Van Unen, Dean Towers, Kyle Hartigan, Here is a snapshot of how all the clubs look. www.vfl .com.au 3 PREVIEW BENDIGO GOLD BOX HILL HAWKS Coach: Aussie Jones (1st season) Coach: Damian Carroll (3rd season) Captain: Steven Stroobants Captain: Daniel Pratt Affi liate: Stand-alone Affi liate: Hawthorn Last season record: 9-9 Last season record: 9-9 Last season fi nish: Eighth Last season fi nish: Sixth Best & Fairest: Brendan Lee Best & Fairest: Tom Schneider Welcome: Daniel Toman (Northern Blues), Welcome: Sam Illes (Gold Coast Suns), Bryce Retzlaff Lee Coghlan (Sandhurst), Matthew Stapleton (Brisbane Lions), Sam Avtio (Palmerston), Ryan Exon (Sandringham), Jackson Bolton (Box Hill Hawks), (Oakleigh Chargers), Brad Harvey (Brisbane Lions), Pat Flynn (Collingwood), Alik Magin (Gold Coast Suns), Brandon Wood (Eastern Ranges), Tom Hams (South Bendigo), Matt Farrelly (Echuca) Matt Northe (Gippsland Power) Farewell: Ben Duscher, Josh Freezer (Essendon) AFL Rookies: Andrew Boseley, Jonathon Ceglar, Amos Rick Ladson (country), Matthew Little (Essendon GM) Frank, Will Langford, Derick Wanganeen Overview: For the fi rst time in a decade, Bendigo fi nds Farewell: Matt Jones (Melbourne), Danny Hughes itself as a stand- alone entity, without the security- (Port Melbourne), Beau Muston, Ben Fagan, Jackson blanket if you like of Essendon. While that in itself Bolton (Bendigo), Tom Purcell (Frankston), Aaron Johns could be daunting, the new-look Bendigo Gold, led by (Frankston), Taylor Gilchrist (Balwyn), former St Kilda star Aussie Jones, begins a new phase Overview: Box Hill Hawks have played fi nals the past without a bunch of its ‘own’ players. Last year’s co- two years, but didn’t make any inroads in either series captains Ben Duscher and Trent Shinners, goal kicking past the second week. Its lack of depth of experienced goliath Matthew Little, ex-Hawk Rick Ladson and the VFL players proved telling and the VFL Hawks enter this emerging Josh Freezer, are all gone. It leaves a gaping season minus a number of senior, experienced players hole not only in experience, an invaluable commodity in as well as a smattering of young players who have the VFL, but also in talent. Bendigo has recruited some decided to journey down East Link to stand alone VFL young players from other VFL clubs as well as a host of club Frankston. While the addition of 2009 best and locals. The challenge is considerable for Bendigo Gold fairest winner Sam Iles, who returns after a couple of to return to the fi nals, but that’s what footy is all about seasons with Gold Coast Suns, will be a bonus, Iles – dealing with challenges. can’t be expected to hoist everyone on his shoulders. Box Hill Hawks will rely heavily on those players who don’t play for Hawthorn and hope they can unearth some talent from the TAC Cup graduates they have picked up.