TAC CUP FINALS WEEK 2 SEMI FINALS SEPTEMBER 8, 2013 $3.00 NNoo ssecondecond cchanceshances WWesternestern JJetsets 110.12-720.12-72 d MMurrayurray BBushrangersushrangers 99.9-63.9-63 THE RECOVERY DRINK YOU NEVER KNEW YOU DRANK. It’s true. Your humble glass of milk contains electrolytes for rehydration and proteins to repair muscle. dairyaustralia.com.au/legendairy EDITORIAL A vote count to remember CELEBRATING J.J. Liston Trophy night is always an evening to remember, but this year it was three times as memorable. For just the second time ever in the storied history of the of sharing in the Liston Trophy and Liston Trophy, awarded in recognition for the fairest and earlier in the season represented best player in the Peter Jackson VFL, three players – the VFL in the State representative Stephen Clifton, Mitch Hallahan and Jordan Schroder – match against Western Australia, shared the honor. has the attributes to take his game In a stunning climax to the count, Schroder leapt from to the next level. He too is a produce of the TAC Cup, fourth to a tie for fi rst with a maximum three vote game in formerly with the Northern Knights. the fi nal home and away round of the Peter Jackson VFL Casey Scorpions Aiden Lindsay won the A. Todd Medal for season. the best and fairest in the Development League. It’s worth The Liston result provides a snap shot of the unique noting that six years ago the Todd Medal was won by Sam offering that the Peter Jackson VFL delivers for players. Dwyer who this weekend will play for Collingwood in an Elimination Final. For Stephen Clifton, who became the seventh dual Liston Trophy winner, the competition provides him the Port Melbourne full forward Dean Galea was awarded the opportunity to play at the highest level outside the AFL. Jim ‘Frosty’ Miller Medal for the leading goal kicked in the Peter Jackson VFL. For Hallahan and Schroder, two emerging young players on AFL Club lists, the Peter Jackson VFL gives them a quality Bendigo Gold’s Alik Magin won the Toyota VFL Coaches competition to refi ne their skills and learn their craft in Player of the Year Award, votes complied weekly by preparation for a call-up to the AFL. coaches on opposition players. All three are a further glowing endorsement of Victoria’s VFL Life Membership was bestowed upon Port Melbourne talented player pathway as each came through the TAC Cup captain John Baird, his teammate Sam Pleming, Geelong’s program – Clifton (North Ballarat Rebels), Hallahan Dom Gleeson, dual Liston Trophy winner Shane Valenti, (Dandenong Stingrays) and Schroder (Calder Cannons). umpire Peter Balding, Frankston General Manager Bryan Mace and Sandringham President, Gerard Ryan. While the Liston Trophy took centre stage the evening also saw the VFL community toast other outstanding individual Long serving Northern Blues head trainer and now property achievements. steward Joey Falzon was awarded the Alec Gillon Medal for outstanding contribution to the club. Kane Lambert, a Northern Blues player who grew up a torpedo punt away from Cramer Street, the spiritual home Congratulations to all the winners on a Liston Trophy night of the club, was awarded the Fothergill Round Medal. to remember. The Medal, in recognition of Des Fothergill and Barry We now look forward to revealing the Morrish Medal Round, the only two players to win a Brownlow Medal and winner, and various other TAC Cup competition award Liston Trophy, is awarded to a player aged 23 or younger winners this Sunday night at Etihad Stadium. with the potential to take his game to the AFL. Grant Williams All the indicators are that Lambert, who was one vote shy AFL Victoria General Manager Editor: Anthony Stanguts anthony.stanguts@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Adrian Dunn, David O’Neill, Madeline Grech, Justin Jenvey 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: Mitchell Keedle (Eastern Ranges), Liam Bowkett (Northern Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen Knights), Lachlan Hickey (Western Jets), Matthew Merlo (Calder Cannons) 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 11am Saturday and Sunday as TAC Cup Radio cover ALL fi nals matches. Join Phil Crooks, Rick Morris and Gabe Sorrentino as they bring you a weekly TAC Cup match throughout the season. Sunday September 8: Calder Cannons vs Western Jets Eastern Ranges vs Northern Knights Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au Next game: ALL Preliminary Finals TAC Cup Future Stars TAC Cup Future Stars is back on Channel 9 for season 2013. Join Craig Hutchinson, Kevin Sheehan, and Terry Wallace as they keep you up to date with results and information from AFL Victoria’s TAC Cup competition. Tune in this Sunday September 1, 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 Morrish Medal live stream Watch a live video stream of the 2013 Morrish Medal Tune to www.taccup.com.au from 7pm Sunday September 8 2 www.afl vic.com.au PREVIEW SEMI FINAL PREVIEW: EASTERN RANGES v NORTHERN KNIGHTS Who will meet competition favourite Geelong Falcons in a Preliminary Final – Eastern Ranges or Northern Knights? AFTER seemingly being the main challenger to Geelong the Knight’s better players as was Jake Kalaj and Sam Falcons, Eastern Ranges now fi nds itself in a fi ght to keep Switkowski. alive its season. And, the encouraging aspect is that Northern didn’t have Dandenong Stingrays consigned the Ranges to a cut-throat to rely on its Vic Metro representatives Lennon, Marcus Semi Final clash against Northern Knights with its 43-point Bontempelli, Hugh Curnowa and Jesse Tardio to carry the Qualifying win. club. It is a match that Eastern must quickly move on from if it’s Eastern will gain some comfort from the fact it defeated to hold out the rampaging Knights. Northern during the home and away season, albeit back Northern comes into the Semi Final on the back of a in Round 4. crushing 58-point victory against Gippsland Power. Much has happened since that early encounter. Certainly, It was the Knights’ seventh win from its past nine games the direction of the two clubs has changed dramatically. with its two losses coming against Oakleigh Chargers (18-points) and Murray Bushrangers (three points). While Northern has struck form and momentum at the right end of the season, Eastern has to fi nd a way to regroup after losing its past two games. Calder dealt the Ranges a wake-up call with a 47-point defeat in the last home and away game and then Dandenong delivered a reality check last week. Admittedly, Eastern has been without star midfi elder Mitch Honeychurch the past two games, but he hasn’t played now since Round 15. While the inclusion of Honeychurch will provide a much needed spark, the Ranges can’t rely on one player to lift them into the Preliminary Final. Too much was left for too few against Dandenong. And, in most part it was left to the usual suspects – Ben Cavarra and Michael Apeness – to fl y the fl ag for Eastern. The Ranges will need an overall contribution if they’re to stop the charging Knights, which ended Gippsland’s season with a minimum of fuss. Northern’s dominance could be seen in many facets outside the fact it had 32 scoring shots to the Power’s 14. The margin could easily have blown out beyond 10 goals had the Knights’ conversion been better. While star forward Ben Lennon led the way with three goals, Northern had 11 individual goal kickers. Rover Billy Murphy, playing just his second game since the start of June, provided Northern with plenty of energy and drive. The two Josh’s – Iacobaccio and Turner – were among www.taccup.com.au 3 Prevention is better than cure so protect yourself against injury with the Elastoplast Sport range of sports medicine products. Exclusively used by The Australian Institute of Sport and many other elite sports clubs across Australia and New Zealand.Zealaalalaand.and. s Rigid Strapping Tapes s Mouthguards s Elastic Adhesive Bandages s Hot/Cold Packs For all your Sports Medicine needs. Available from pharmacy, sports medicine wholesalers and supermarkets. OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF TAPES, BANDAGES & WOUNDCARE PRODUCTS TO THE 2012 AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC TEAM 4 www.afl vic.com.au Supporting your Passion PREVIEW SEMI FINAL PREVIEW: CALDER CANNONS v WESTERN JETS For the winner of Calder Cannons versus Western Jets, a match up with Dandenong Stingrays awaits. IF the outcomes from the home and away season count for Certainly, Western won’t mind if the match is again an anything, the Calder Cannons versusWestern Jets Semi arm wrestle and it’s a situation that it’s found itself in Final will go right down to the wire. throughout the season. A grand combined total of three points has separated the The Jets have played in 12 games where the margins has clubs in their two home and away clashes.