THE CHARGE OF THE OAKLEIGH BRIGADE

[Demonland 72,217]

THE CHARGE OF THE OAKLEIGH BRIGADE by Stevo

Last year's TAC Cup runners up, the Oakleigh Chargers carried off the 2012 TAC Cup premiership after some come-from-behind heroics which ended in the winning point being kicked in golden time by the player of the finals series, Jackson Macrae.

The Chargers led the Gippsland Power narrowly at the first break and comfortably at half time. The Power surged in the third term but still trialled at the last change. Oakleigh supporters with long memories would have been wary at that stage as their team led comfortably at the same time last year only to give it all up at the end to the Dragons.

Their worse fears seemed to be coming true as the country boys spurred on by a solid effort from strongly built power forward Tim Membrey saw them to a 12 point lead with only a few minutes left on the clock.

It was the Chargers who steadied  at the most opportune moment and big man Ned Walmsley marked a pass from Eddie Betts look-alike Jay Kennedy-Harris. He converted his shot at goal and soon after, Oakleigh under age sensation Jake Billings took a mark inside 50 and coolly passed it to Tim MacMillan who slotted through the evener. It was then up to Macrae's rapier-like left foot to finish off the game in extra time.

I reported on last week's preliminary finals here and it was the usual suspects who again impressed from a draft point of view.

For the losers Membrey has been compared with the likes of Jack Darling and even Barry Hall but he's under 190cm so would most likely be the third tall (but a handy one and almost ready to go) at AFL level. He kicked 4.3 for the day and could well have been the hero. Livewire Tiwi Islander Anthony “Tippa” Tipungwuti provided the highlights reel of exciting moves and I had Morrish Medallist Nick Graham with three goals and plenty of courageous acts as Gippsland’s best.

The matchwinner Macrae was fully deserving of his award of the TAC Medal which went to Jack Viney of Oakleigh last year. At 188cm and 75kg the midfielder/forward has found his niche and he seems destined along with fellow Carey Grammarians Viney and Kristian Jaksch to feature prominently in November's draft.

Oakleigh also have a swag of bottom agers including Billings, Aidan Franetic and Tom Cutler so they are well placed to charge again in 2013.

2012 TAC Cup Grand Final

Oakleigh Chargers 3.3.21 7.5.47 9.7.61 12.10.82

Gippsland Power 3.2.20 4.3.27 8.5.53 12.9.81

Goals

Oakleigh Chargers Billings Jaksch 2 Cutler Franetic Kennedy-Harris MacMillan MacRae Toohey Vearing Walmsley

Gippsland Power Membrey 4 Graham 3 Scott 2 Deery  Drew Hams  

Best

Oakleigh Chargers Franetic MacRae MacMillan Cutler Collopy Kennedy-Harris

Gippsland Power Graham Cashman Hams Membrey Johnstone Heppell

The exciting final five minutes of the game -

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Oakleigh also have a swag of bottom agers including Billings, Aidan Franetic and Tom Cutler so they are well placed to charge again in 2013.

These kids look good, Cutler was really good off CHB particularly early in the game. Interesting to see he is a bottom ager, Franetic has a touch of class and Billings has already created a bit of interest with some good performances in the championships.

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Similarities between the goal Jimmy Toumpas kicked in last year's SANFL final and Macrea's point this year.

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AFL Draft Combine: 13 Rebels to be screened

Despite being unceremoniously dumped from the TAC Cup finals by eventual winners Oakleigh Dragons in the preliminary final, the North Ballarat Rebels boast the most AFL Draft Combine invitees in Australia this year.

The area has been a good recruiting area for the Demons in the recent past and with the inclusion of the VFL team's Dean Towers, the area should attract strong numbers at the Draft tables:-

NATIONAL COMBINE

Tanner Smith (Kalkee)

Michael Close (Harrow-Balmoral)

Loius Herbert (South Warrnambool)

Martin Gleeson (Koroit)

Matt Crouch (Beaufort)

Jake Neade (Elliott, Northern Territory)

Dom Barry (Alice Springs, Northern Territory)

STATE COMBINE

Tyler Blake (Horsham Demons)

Jake Lloyd (Horsham Demons)

Nick Rippon (East Ballarat)

Kyle Hendy (Stawell Warriors)

Tony Lockyer (Sebastopol)

Dean Robinson (Redan)

Dean Towers, North Ballarat Roosters (Colac)