VFL Round 16 TAC Cup Round 15 1 - 2 August 2015 $3.00 Photo: Jenny Owens Relive Longy’s long, long run down the wing. Another Legendary Moment from Toyota. Visit the Toyota website to witness our legendary recreation of Michael Long’s famous UXQLQWKH*UDQG)LQDODQGVHHMXVWKRZ6WHYHDQG'DYHPDGH/RQJ\ƫ\DJDLQ WR\RWDFRPDXDɭ Photo: Shane Goss Features 4 5 Will Hayes 7 Sam Skinner 9 Joel Wilkinson Every week Editorial 3 VFL Highlights 10 VFL News 11 TAC Cup Highlights 12 TAC Cup News 13 AFL Vic News 15 Club Whiteboard 16 19 Events 21 Connect with your club 22 23 Get Social 24 Draft Watch 64 Who’s playing who 34 35 Box Hill Hawks vs Richmond 52 53 Gippsland vs Geelong 36 37 Port Melbourne vs Coburg 54 55 North Ballarat vs Eastern 38 39 Footscray vs Essendon 56 57 Bendigo vs Calder 40 41 North Ballarat vs Northern 58 59 Dandenong vs Sandringham 41 43 Casey Scorpions vs Werribee 60 61 Northern Blues vs Oakleigh 44 45 Frankston vs Geelong 62 63 Murray vs Western 46 47 Williamstown vs Collingwood Editor: Ben Pollard ben.pollard@afl vic.com.au Contributors: Dave O’Neill, Anthony Stanguts, Design & Print: Cyan Press Photos: AFL Photos (unless otherwise credited) Ikon Park, Gate 3, Royal Parade, Carlton Nth, VIC 3054 Advertising: Ryan Webb (03) 8341 6062 GPO Box 4337, Melbourne, VIC 3001 Phone: (03) 8341 6000 | Fax: (03) 9380 1076 AFL Victoria CEO: Steven Reaper www.afl vic.com.au State League & Talent Manager: John Hook High Performance Managers: Anton Grbac, Leon Harris Cover: Werribee’s Brayden Norris searches for an option Talent Operations Coordinator: Rhy Gieschen during the Tigers’ Round 15 win over the Box Hill Hawks Talent Operations Coordinator: Lauren Bunting www.taccup.com.au 01 Television Online VFL Online Website: www.vfl .com.au Twitter: @VFL #PJVFL Facebook: www.facebook.com/vfl footy Broadcasting the Peter Jackson VFL in 2015 TAC Cup Online Sunday August 2 – 11.30am Website: www.taccup.com.au Footscray v Essendon Twitter: @TACCup Next week: Collingwood v Northern Blues Facebook: www.facebook.com/taccupfooty (Saturday) Radio L VFL Live I Saturday August 1, Port Melbourne v Coburg from 1.45pm Live on Digital Radio via Aussie, Red Time Sport and SEN iPhone Apps, V online via vfl .com.au or sen.com.au E Next week: Essendon v Werribee R TAC Cup Radio A Saturday August 1, Gippsland Power v Geelong Falcons from 12.45pm D I Listen live on the Red Time Sport iPhone App or www.taccup.com.au O Next round: Dandenong Stingrays v Oakleigh Chargers 3WBC Saturday August 1, Box Hill Hawks v Richmond from 1pm Listen to 94.1FM, online at www.3wbc.org.au or the Tune In Radio app Next week: Box Hill Hawks v Casey Scorpions Casey Radio Sunday August 2, Casey Scorpions v Werribee from 1pm Tune to 97.7fm in Melbourne, via the web at www.caseyradio.com.au, or on the Tune In Radio app on your smart phone. Next game: Frankston v Essendon (August 16) Video Streaming Visit www.vfl .com.au on Saturday at 2pm for a link to live video stream of: Port Melbourne v Coburg Watch the action and listen to the call from the VFL Live team. Next week: Essendon v Werribee (Sunday) Proudly supported by www.onesourcechina.com.au 02 www.vfl .com.au Plenty of pathway options Managing the many diff erent elements of the talent pathway is one of AFL Victoria’s most important objectives. On the surface the pathway might appear simple, with so many stars of the game beginning their journey at NAB Auskick, then making their mark with a junior football club before taking the fi nal step in the TAC Cup and our Vic Country and Vic Metro Academies. But through this pathway there are a number of systems in place to ensure young players receive the right development both on and off -fi eld, and that boys and girls can fi nd diff erent avenues to reach their potential, regardless of what age they are when introduced to Australian football. Our programs must also provide an environment that allows junior footballers to prosper regardless of their background, while understanding that not all players develop at the same stage of the pathway. Our ultimate aim is to see Victoria’s most talented footballers reach the highest level of football they can, whether that be the AFL, the Peter Jackson VFL or metropolitan or country community competitions. The 19-year-old player provision in the TAC Cup and the 23rd player rule in the VFL are examples of how AFL Victoria ensures the pathway is adaptable to diff erent circumstances. Collingwood rising star Tom Langdon was a product of the 19-year-old rule which allows TAC Cup regions to retain a player who would normally be too old for the U18 competition. Players may benefi t from an extra year of development for various reasons, such as a serious injury or the fact they may be a latecomer to the sport. The 23rd player rule in the VFL gives clubs another tool to help players develop, with sides able to include an extra player and allow them to test themselves at that level without the pressure that may be associated with being picked in the 22-man team. Oft en we see players who remain in the TAC Cup as a 19-year-old also enjoy a chance to play as a 23rd player in the VFL through the alignment between TAC Cup regions and VFL clubs. This allows recruiters to get a good gauge on the level of the player’s development and also gives the player a chance to get a taste of senior football. Last year Murray Bushrangers pair Nathan Drummond and Dan Howe both spent time with Richmond in the VFL, providing these players with an opportunity to experience training and playing at the next level against VFL and AFL-listed players. Both found themselves on AFL lists later in the year with Richmond and Hawthorn respectively. The alignment between the VFL clubs and TAC Cup regions also encourages all players who miss out on being selected in the NAB AFL Draft to continue to play at the highest level of football possible. Oft en this is at state league level alongside former teammates who are further developing their game in the VFL while on AFL lists. Steven Reaper AFL Victoria CEO www.taccup.com.au 03 Young Dogs, plenty of tricks First-year Footscray coach Ashley Hansen has taken the reins of a dynamic, young premiership-winning team that continues to roll quality AFL and VFL-listed talent off its development line. So what’s in the water down at VU Whitten Oval? Will Hayes has continued his rapid rise this season, “There’s no secret – and if there was, I probably playing every match except one and being named wouldn’t be telling,” Hansen laughs. Footscray’s best player in wins against the Northern Blues in Round 12 and Geelong in Round 14. “I think we’ve brought in some really good kids with Hansen – an ex-West Coast premiership forward a really good attitude to learning and working hard, – was glowing in his praise of the 20-year-old’s which is a fundamental of becoming a better player. development since graduating from the Sandringham “It’s certainly been exciting to work with the current Dragons TAC Cup program in 2013. crop we’ve got.” “Will’s just a great young man,” Hansen said. AFL observers would be familiar with young Bulldogs “His application to his training, diligence to want to such as Mitch Honeychurch, Lin Jong, Jason learn and appetite to do everything he can to be the Johannisen, Ayce Cordy, Jack Redpath and Michael best player he can has just been fantastic. Talia, who have gone on to play regular football at the “I love working with him – he’s certainly enjoyable to elite level in 2015 aft er featuring in Footscray’s Grand coach and he’s getting the best out of himself at the Final triumph over the Box Hill Hawks last September. moment.” But as those players begin to cement themselves in The former Melbourne Grammar boy booted the Western Bulldogs line-up, lesser-known VFL-listed important bags of four and three goals to help sink players are emerging to take their place. Northern and Geelong respectively, as Hansen One of those Bulldog pups defi ed his own continues to develop 180cm Hayes as a dangerous expectations to earn a spot in that 2014 fl ag-winning forward. team in just his fi rst season of senior football. “His game in regards to the defensive side and 04 www.vfl .com.au contested side is really starting to complement transition from Development Coach to taking over his off ensive ability, which is probably his natural from Chris Maple as Head Coach, said the club’s focus tendency,” Hansen said. on development was a key to its success. “He’s an exciting young player and one we’ve got high “We have a new coach at AFL level, Luke Beveridge, hopes for.” who’s come out of a successful development program Hayes himself said he was reaping the rewards of himself (at Hawthorn) and seen how Box Hill have developing his craft with Footscray forwards coach had success, so he’s been really supportive of our VFL Chad Jones. team,” Hansen said. “One of the big things I’ve been working on over the “It might sound clichéd, but when you work with past month is my contested ground balls, which have players on a day-to-day basis, you see what they’re signifi cantly improved,” Hayes said.