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So I just sat through most of the Eastern Rangers demolition job on the Dandenong Stingrays. Some quick notes as im on the mobile and typing is a pain. TOM BOYD - he the number 1 pick by a mile. Given he looked like he was underdone he did a great job kicking 4 goals and having a hand in about 3 or 4 others. But I am leaving here with small doubts on his ability below the knees and his speed but they are very small knocks. At any team apart from gws he would be given vfl time but he can play from rd1 if need be. MITCH HONEYCHURCH - really like this kid, takes the game on and kick goals but unfortunately I dont think he is what we need. BILLY HARTUNG - one of the stingrays best today with 3 goals and a few nice centre breaks. If we had a midfield that could win more of the ball then he would be an ideal pick up with speed, a nice kick but would need a season to put on a couple of kgs. ZAC JONES - its quite hard not to sound biased towards chunks little bro but he is what we need. Today I saw him in every part of the ground and he really looked best in the guts. Strong hips that break tackles, decent kick but needs some work, love it in the pack but the part that really impressed me was his willingness to spread. Although he needs to work on his tank like 75% of the tac cup kids, after his last month he would be firming for a top 30 pick now. Will be an interesting draft for us, if we managed to get an end of 1st round priority pick dont be surprised if we go for guys like Lloyd Perris, Zac Jones, James Tsitas and Patrick Cripps with that pick and our 2nd and 3rd round picks. Anyhow, now to watch the vfl.

Our resident TAC Cup watcher Stevo was at Visy Park for Preliminary Final Day PRELIMINARY by Stevo TAC Cup Preliminary Final Day at Visy Park was a humbling day in many ways as it saw the demise of last year's premiers as well as this year's minor premiers. The Sandringham Dragons fell to the Gippsland Power in a nail biter of a game while North Ballarat Rebels were comprehensively beaten by last year's runners up, the Oakleigh Chargers. The day of the double header began with the close one. Gippsland were the early favourites in the competition remaining unbeaten for the first eight rounds before going into a minor trough. The Power, coached by former Port Adelaide and Carlton star Nick Stevens, knocked off their neighbours from the Dandenong Stingrays on qualifying final day and were coming off a big week after midfielder Nick Graham became the Morrish Medallist for 2012. Of added interest to Demon fans is the fact that the Power are the feeder club for Casey and quite a few of the current team had stints as the 23rd player with the Scorpions this year. Three of these players Tom Muir, Shannen Lange and Jack Johnstone were named in their best players. The Dragons, coached by Justin Plapp, were reigning premiers and have had a solid season. They narrowly lost their opening qualifying final against top placed North Ballarat but came back strongly in their semi to comfortably account for the Geelong Falcons. As it turned out, a win would have set up a replay of last year’s TAC Cup Grand Final. The game was a great contest with the lead see-sawing all day but in the end, the country lads, spearheaded by a brilliant eight goal performance from Tim Membrey, finished on top. Membrey’s effort was certainly the difference between the two sides and he will undoubtedly feature early in draft calculations. Those who saw him playing in the Victorian Under 18 championships for Victoria Country would realise only too well how difficult it is to compartmentalise this youngster. At 188cm and 87kg, the 18 year old Membrey is an unlikely key position forward but he is a big physical presence at this level. He marks everything whether overhead or on a lead, is a smart mover and an accurate kick. He was simply outstanding for his team and I think he will go either very late in the first round of the draft or in the second and he could tempt the Demons if they are looking for readymade material at that level. That said, he will have plenty of work to do in the pre season to comply with Mark Neeld’s demands that players must be strong on the defensive side of their game, irrespective of where they play. Another interesting player at Gippsland who has been around for a while is over ager Anthony Tipungwiti from the Tiwi Islands, who turns 20 in April of next year. I’ve seen him go through a few physical changes since he started with the Power in 2010 when he was a teammate of Dyson Heppell (this year, he plays in the same team with Heppell’s brother Aaron). Standing only 171cm but weighing 79kg, he’s an elusive character with pace to burn and has a few tricks (as well as a pair of yellow boots) in his kit bag. He is also very good at ground level. Nick Graham from Traralgon Tyers United is a midfielder forward who plays a strong inside game, attacks the ball and tackles the man and uses the ball well. His Morrish Medal win probably pushed his draft credentials forward to the public but most recruiters would have had him in their sights already and at 182cm he is taller than many of the others who win this award but are often overlooked because of lack of size. He capped off a big week by kicking the winning goal to get his team into the Grand Final. Ben Kearns is another midfielder who can go forward and kick goals and like Graham he kicked a couple against the Dragons. This might sound strange having witnessed a very close game between the two sides but I didn’t see all that much immediately draftable talent among the Dragons. James Stewart who kicked three goals is a father/son prospect, a few others are still a year away from being drafted (bottom ager Josh Kelly is an outside GWS mini draft possibility on current form) and the team is very even so there is not much that stands out. Their midfield talent is somewhat "vanilla" when compared with the leading draft candidates around the TAC Cup and interstate. Tom Tyquin had a very good game for the Dragons. His disposal was superb at times. Teammate Tom Temay is probably better credentialed because of his versatility in that he can go down back and forward and play run with roles as well. Kenny Ong had his moments and is one who could snaffle a late draft or rookie placing. I do expect the Dragons to come back well next year as they have some good young prospects who will be thereabouts in 2013. Gippsland Power 6.2.38 9.4.58 12.7.79 16.10.106 Sandringham Dragons 5.2.32 7.5.47 11.9.75 15.12.102 Goals Gippsland Power Membrey 8 Graham Kearns Northe 2 Scott Tipungwuti Sandringham Dragons Stewart 3 Langdon Zijai 2 Amon Cathcart Freeman Hayes Heatherley Howes Le Grice Tyquin Best Gippsland Power Membrey Muir Lange Channing Johnstone Hams Sandringham Dragons Le Grice Ong Mangoni Tyquin Barnes Wilson The second game was something of an anti-climax after the thriller that preceeded it. The North Ballarat Rebels were disappointing after finishing as minor premiers, sitting on top of the competition ladder for 11 of the 17 home and away rounds and beating the Dragons in a tight qualifying final a fortnight ago. To the victor, the spoils were a berth in the Grand Final but the Rebels were never in the hunt and were slaughtered by 83 points in the end with Chargers dominant in the midfield and everywhere else on the ground. Needless to say, I struggle to find any Rebel players whose performances are worth commenting upon. Last year Oakleigh produced Toby Green, now starring with the GWS Giants and Jack Viney (best on the ground in the Grand Final) who was the right age this year but concentrated on VFL with Casey and school football with Carey Grammar. This year the Chargers maintained their elite midfield status finding, among others, Viney's schoolmate in skillful left footer Jackson Macrae who is the perfect size for a modern midfielder at 188cm. Coming off a very good Under 18's carnival, Macrae has been in outstanding form in the finals and his stocks have risen rapidly. He reads the play well, is an outstanding kick and decision maker and he can find the goals. His partner in crime Ryan Exon, has a name that sounds like a petrol company and the Chargers have been getting good mileage out of him. The team was also well served by Aiden Franetic and bottom age sensation Jack Billings who starred for Vic Metro in the championships and was in sparkling form at half forward. He's a great user of the ball and will move into the midfield next year. He's also a certainty to be a top three draft pick next year, especially with Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan out of the way. Oakleigh's key forwards Kristian Jaksch and Ned Walmsley kicked five goals between them and while I'm loathe to comment on promising key position players after pumping up Lucas Cook's tyres a couple of years ago, I think the former has what it takes to live up to the high accolades that have been heaped upon him. Jaksch is tall, a good contested mark, strong on the ground and his kicking is solid. He also goes well down back and is another schoolmate of Jack Viney at Carey. Another prospect for next year is North Melbourne father/son hopeful Luke McDonald who, like Billings is already an All Australian. He will most likely cost his old man's club a first round selection in next year's draft. As much as I have a soft spot for the Ballarat region which has produced a few players for Melbourne in recent years, there was not much to report from the Rebels' listless effort in a must win preliminary final. Tanner Smith who showed good run in defence for Vic Country struggled in this game as a key position forward while defender Tim Mackenzie battled hard against the odds. The small brigade which has served the Rebels well all year wasn't up to the might of the Chargers although midfielder Nick Rippon, who has been consistently good, had his moments. An interesting prospect who I do like is Dom Barry, a Northern Territorian who boards at St. Pat's Ballarat and has sizzling pace. One Rebel who showed real class was bottom ager Matt Crouch whose brother was picked up in last year's GWS mini draft. He will be a likely contender next year. North Ballarat Rebels 0.2.2 1.3.9 5.4.34 5.6.36 Oakleigh Chargers 3.7.25 10.10.70 14.15.99 17.17.119 Goals North Ballarat Rebels Herbert 3 Neade 2 Oakleigh Chargers Franetic Jaksch MacRae 3 Collopy Walmsley 2 Billings Cutler McDonald Toohey Best North Ballarat Rebels Hendy Cassidy Barry Blake Mackenzie Herbert Oakleigh Chargers MacRae Collins Exon McDonald Billings Raru

Our resident TAC Cup watcher Stevo was at Visy Park for Preliminary Final Day PRELIMINARY by Stevo TAC Cup Preliminary Final Day at Visy Park was a humbling day in many ways as it saw the demise of last year's premiers as well as this year's minor premiers. The Sandringham Dragons fell to the Gippsland Power in a nail biter of a game while North Ballarat Rebels were comprehensively beaten by last year's runners up, the Oakleigh Chargers. The day of the double header began with the close one. Gippsland were the early favourites in the competition remaining unbeaten for the first eight rounds before going into a minor trough. The Power, coached by former Port Adelaide and Carlton star Nick Stevens, knocked off their neighbours from the Dandenong Stingrays on qualifying final day and were coming off a big week after midfielder Nick Graham became the Morrish Medallist for 2012. Of added interest to Demon fans is the fact that the Power are the feeder club for Casey and quite a few of the current team had stints as the 23rd player with the Scorpions this year. Three of these players Tom Muir, Shannen Lange and Jack Johnstone were named in their best players. The Dragons, coached by Justin Plapp, were reigning premiers and have had a solid season. They narrowly lost their opening qualifying final against top placed North Ballarat but came back strongly in their semi to comfortably account for the Geelong Falcons. As it turned out, a win would have set up a replay of last year’s TAC Cup Grand Final. The game was a great contest with the lead see-sawing all day but in the end, the country lads, spearheaded by a brilliant eight goal performance from Tim Membrey, finished on top. Membrey’s effort was certainly the difference between the two sides and he will undoubtedly feature early in draft calculations. Those who saw him playing in the Victorian Under 18 championships for Victoria Country would realise only too well how difficult it is to compartmentalise this youngster. At 188cm and 87kg, the 18 year old Membrey is an unlikely key position forward but he is a big physical presence at this level. He marks everything whether overhead or on a lead, is a smart mover and an accurate kick. He was simply outstanding for his team and I think he will go either very late in the first round of the draft or in the second and he could tempt the Demons if they are looking for readymade material at that level. That said, he will have plenty of work to do in the pre season to comply with Mark Neeld’s demands that players must be strong on the defensive side of their game, irrespective of where they play. Another interesting player at Gippsland who has been around for a while is over ager Anthony Tipungwiti from the Tiwi Islands, who turns 20 in April of next year. I’ve seen him go through a few physical changes since he started with the Power in 2010 when he was a teammate of Dyson Heppell (this year, he plays in the same team with Heppell’s brother Aaron). Standing only 171cm but weighing 79kg, he’s an elusive character with pace to burn and has a few tricks (as well as a pair of yellow boots) in his kit bag. He is also very good at ground level. Nick Graham from Traralgon Tyers United is a midfielder forward who plays a strong inside game, attacks the ball and tackles the man and uses the ball well. His Morrish Medal win probably pushed his draft credentials forward to the public but most recruiters would have had him in their sights already and at 182cm he is taller than many of the others who win this award but are often overlooked because of lack of size. He capped off a big week by kicking the winning goal to get his team into the Grand Final. Ben Kearns is another midfielder who can go forward and kick goals and like Graham he kicked a couple against the Dragons. This might sound strange having witnessed a very close game between the two sides but I didn’t see all that much immediately draftable talent among the Dragons. James Stewart who kicked three goals is a father/son prospect, a few others are still a year away from being drafted (bottom ager Josh Kelly is an outside GWS mini draft possibility on current form) and the team is very even so there is not much that stands out. Their midfield talent is somewhat "vanilla" when compared with the leading draft candidates around the TAC Cup and interstate. Tom Tyquin had a very good game for the Dragons. His disposal was superb at times. Teammate Tom Temay is probably better credentialed because of his versatility in that he can go down back and forward and play run with roles as well. Kenny Ong had his moments and is one who could snaffle a late draft or rookie placing. I do expect the Dragons to come back well next year as they have some good young prospects who will be thereabouts in 2013. Gippsland Power 6.2.38 9.4.58 12.7.79 16.10.106 Sandringham Dragons 5.2.32 7.5.47 11.9.75 15.12.102 Goals Gippsland Power Membrey 8 Graham Kearns Northe 2 Scott Tipungwuti Sandringham Dragons Stewart 3 Langdon Zijai 2 Amon Cathcart Freeman Hayes Heatherley Howes Le Grice Tyquin Best Gippsland Power Membrey Muir Lange Channing Johnstone Hams Sandringham Dragons Le Grice Ong Mangoni Tyquin Barnes Wilson The second game was something of an anti-climax after the thriller that preceeded it. The North Ballarat Rebels were disappointing after finishing as minor premiers, sitting on top of the competition ladder for 11 of the 17 home and away rounds and beating the Dragons in a tight qualifying final a fortnight ago. To the victor, the spoils were a berth in the Grand Final but the Rebels were never in the hunt and were slaughtered by 83 points in the end with Chargers dominant in the midfield and everywhere else on the ground. Needless to say, I struggle to find any Rebel players whose performances are worth commenting upon. Last year Oakleigh produced Toby Green, now starring with the GWS Giants and Jack Viney (best on the ground in the Grand Final) who was the right age this year but concentrated on VFL with Casey and school football with Carey Grammar. This year the Chargers maintained their elite midfield status finding, among others, Viney's schoolmate in skillful left footer Jackson Macrae who is the perfect size for a modern midfielder at 188cm. Coming off a very good Under 18's carnival, Macrae has been in outstanding form in the finals and his stocks have risen rapidly. He reads the play well, is an outstanding kick and decision maker and he can find the goals. His partner in crime Ryan Exon, has a name that sounds like a petrol company and the Chargers have been getting good mileage out of him. The team was also well served by Aiden Franetic and bottom age sensation Jack Billings who starred for Vic Metro in the championships and was in sparkling form at half forward. He's a great user of the ball and will move into the midfield next year. He's also a certainty to be a top three draft pick next year, especially with Jack Martin and Jesse Hogan out of the way. Oakleigh's key forwards Kristian Jaksch and Ned Walmsley kicked five goals between them and while I'm loathe to comment on promising key position players after pumping up Lucas Cook's tyres a couple of years ago, I think the former has what it takes to live up to the high accolades that have been heaped upon him. Jaksch is tall, a good contested mark, strong on the ground and his kicking is solid. He also goes well down back and is another schoolmate of Jack Viney at Carey. Another prospect for next year is North Melbourne father/son hopeful Luke McDonald who, like Billings is already an All Australian. He will most likely cost his old man's club a first round selection in next year's draft. As much as I have a soft spot for the Ballarat region which has produced a few players for Melbourne in recent years, there was not much to report from the Rebels' listless effort in a must win preliminary final. Tanner Smith who showed good run in defence for Vic Country struggled in this game as a key position forward while defender Tim Mackenzie battled hard against the odds. The small brigade which has served the Rebels well all year wasn't up to the might of the Chargers although midfielder Nick Rippon, who has been consistently good, had his moments. An interesting prospect who I do like is Dom Barry, a Northern Territorian who boards at St. Pat's Ballarat and has sizzling pace. One Rebel who showed real class was bottom ager Matt Crouch whose brother was picked up in last year's GWS mini draft. He will be a likely contender next year. North Ballarat Rebels 0.2.2 1.3.9 5.4.34 5.6.36 Oakleigh Chargers 3.7.25 10.10.70 14.15.99 17.17.119 Goals North Ballarat Rebels Herbert 3 Neade 2 Oakleigh Chargers Franetic Jaksch MacRae 3 Collopy Walmsley 2 Billings Cutler McDonald Toohey Best North Ballarat Rebels Hendy Cassidy Barry Blake Mackenzie Herbert Oakleigh Chargers MacRae Collins Exon McDonald Billings Raru

TAC CUP GRAND OLD FINAL by Whispering Jack On the morning of the TAC Cup Grand Final, the Sunday Herald Sun ran an article quoting Barry Prendergast on Oakleigh Charger midfielder Jack Viney, with the Melbourne recruiting chief declaring that he would "not take much notice of the father-son sensation". Easy for him to say because the 178cm 77kg midfielder is already committed to the club, but for Demon fans at the ground it was hard not to notice the 34 possession winning human battering-ram tackle, harass and generally terrorise the Sandringham Dragons on his way to being judged officially as best on ground. A fair effort for a bottom aged player who isn't eligible to be drafted until November next year, but enough of that. This was a grand final and it was won by the Dragons who started and finished the stronger and it was their big men who won the day in a high standard exciting game of football that had everything. The game was one of momentum shifts that also highlighted the talents of some skilful youngsters who will soon be attracting more attention from the football world as the national draft draws closer. The players who attracted my attention were:- • Sandringham Dragons Ben Darrou 25/11/93 190cm 91kg - a strong, athletic defender who looks to have all the attributes necessary to make it at AFL level. He held up well even in the middle stages when the Dragon defence was most under pressure. Does a lot of the one per centers that often don't get noticed. Jackson Paine 21/06/93 193cm 87kg - was impressive when I saw him playing for Vic Metro in the televised national championships game. On Sunday, he kicked a couple of goals and always looked dangerous with his good positioning and strong marking. Xavier Richards 25/04/93 194cm 81kg - brother of Sydney Swan Ted Richards. He played forward and back, kicked a couple of goals and was one of a number of talls who overwhelmed the Chargers in the end. Fletcher Roberts 03/06/93 197cm 80kg - it seems that every TAC Cup grand final produces a player whose performance is elevated in draft standings and the 197cm Roberts with five goals (three in the final quarter) was the match winner who stood out with his leading and strong contested marking. He missed a couple in the third term but generally, his disposal was good. He also showed good agility and was reasonable at ground level. Liam Sumner 16/08/93 182cm 70kg - a well balanced pacy outside midfielder with poise who kept going all day. Showed that he can win the ball at the stoppages and also pushed forward to kick a goal. A potential first round selection. Alex Woodwood 11/06/93 179cm 79kg - worked really hard for the Dragons and finished with 20 touches in a performance that showed he has the capability of making it as a small midfielder who can win the hard ball. • Oakleigh Chargers Seb Gotch 12/07/93 172cm 71kg - son of the Scorpions' coach. I liked the way this Gotch played and in this day and age when the small forward is making a comeback, it would not surprise if he was drafted (albeit probably late because of his size). He took a couple of speccies in the second quarter for his two goals and showed great discipline on a couple of occasions when he gave the ball off to a teammate in a better position. Is a quick thinker and a moves well and apparently if he doesn't make it as a footballer, he could make it at a high level at cricket. Toby Greene 15/09/93 180cm 78kg - was super-impressive at the national championships and was close to best on ground in the final game at Etihad Stadium on his way to All Australian honours. He must like this ground because he was close to best again with 34 possessions in a losing team. A real ball magnet who links well and has good skills. Nick Murphy 22/03/93 194cm 86kg - got the Chargers going with his strong hands, good leading and accuracy in front of goals. Kicked five but in the end was overshadowed by his opposite number for the Dragons. Adam Tomlinson 10/08/93 192cm 86kg - his run out of defence was exceptional and he saved his team on a number of occasions. Has good mobility and, despite a rare error late in the game, he was one of his team's best. Should get drafted early. Dom Tyson 08/06/93 186cm 82kg - touted as one of the leading midfielders and a possible top five draft choice after winning All Australian selection at the national championships. Tyson did not stand out in the grand final but he did show signs of his ball winning ability and the creativity that led to the big wraps on him this year. There were others who went in and out of the game which I rate as one of the best I've seen in the two decades of TAC Cup competition but I have to come back to Viney who fully deserved the accolades he received for his game. His attack on the ball was the strongest I've seen from a kid of his age and his performance ranks favourably with that of another under age midfield type from the Dandenong Stingrays who I watched in the 2008 final series. Tom Scully was seriously good in those games and stamped himself as a potential # 1 pick for the draft that was then more than twelve months away. Viney is in the same category but his pathway is likely to be different in that he will probably share his time between the Casey Scorpions and the Carey Grammar school team. I do sense that Viney will be somewhat more committed to the cause of the AFL team for which he is destined to play. Sandringham Dragons 6.1 7.6 10.10 17.11 (113) Oakleigh Chargers 2.2 9.4 14.6 16.9 (105) GOALS: Sandringham Dragons: Roberts 5 Williams 2 Coleman 2 Paine 2 Richards 2 Sumner Anastasio Fallon Ong Oakleigh Chargers: Murphy 5 Mascitti 2 Gotch 2 Hammond Jong Greene Soriano Wooffindin Heath Arnot BEST: Sandringham Dragons: Roberts Darrou Paine Heagney-Steart Williams Woodward Oakleigh Chargers: VINEY Harris Tomlinson Murphy Greene Purcell