A couple of years ago, when the Zebras were still affiliated with the Demons, a group of Demonlanders used to watch them play from a position underneath the social club at the Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval. At half time one week, we noticed this young teenage kid was taking shots for goal with (presumably) his father and he was a deadly accurate kick for goal even as far out as the 50m line. After a bit of detective work someone came up with the story that it was Addam Maric's younger brother who had come to TBBO to watch his young Demon sibling play for Sandringham. The kid looked like Addam Maric and he certainly had the same effective kicking action as the first year Demon who had been celebrated the year before as the most accurate kick in the TAC Cup competition.

Well today the TAC Cup season opens with three Round 10 games (yes, I know this story is starting to sound a bit fanciful but this part is definitely true) and lining up for the Northern Knights Under 18 team is a young Nicholas Maric, just turned 17 and playing in a forward pocket. I asked myself whether this could possibly be the same young kid with the deadly kick from TBBO and my initial detective work suggests that there's a relationship there. Although Addam played for the Calder Cannons and Nicholas is with the Northern Knights, they both come from Greenvale in the northern suburbs. Young Nicholas is just knee high to a grasshopper at 168cm 60kg but he still has time to grow to Addam's 179cm.

Anyhow, I'll be looking with interest to see how young Nicholas goes today and in the future with the Knights. I hope both brothers can get among the goals in 2010 and if any Demonlanders make it out to Visy Park this afternoon, your reports would be greatly appreciated!

Great story WJ and excellent detective work.

It would have been an absolute match if the young bloke was called Nnicholass!

Thanks for that happy trip down memory lane Whispering.

I remember that TBO moment.

How exciting!

Thanks for that happy trip down memory lane Whispering.

I remember that TBO moment.

How exciting!

I reckon I might be on to something.

2010 TAC Cup

Sandringham Dragons   2.2  6.3  7.4  9.5 (59)

Northern Knights   3.5  9.7  10.11  14.14 (98)

GOALS:

Sandringham Dragons: Jacobs 4 Gillespie 2 Boyd  Reilly  Sharp

Northern Knights: Barden 2 Marcon 2 Veal 2 Caddy 2 Maric 2 Lincoln  Mascoulis  Currie  Longer

BEST:

Sandringham Dragons: Jacobs Dermott Garside James Fallon Boyd

Northern Knights: Caddy Witkowski Barden Marcon Veal Maric