AFL Victoria today launched the 2012 Peter Jackson VFL Season at Preston City Oval, home of the Northern Blues Football Club.
The VFL season kicks off this weekend, with opening round matches being played on Saturday and Sunday – including a Saturday night fixture between Casey Scorpions and Williamstown.
The Launch highlighted three different stories of people that have been involved in the VFL competition.
North Melbourne rookie, Sam Gibson spoke about his progression back into the AFL from the Box Hill Hawks, where he was the 2011 Captain and Best & Fairest winner.
Shannon Grant gave the crowd a few coaching tips on how he developed so many AFL draftees as Bendigo’s Senior Coach in 2011. Grant is now an Assistant Coach at the Western Bulldogs.
Adam Cockie told a different story of his involvement in the VFL. A former West Coast Eagle, Cockie has travelled to Melbourne from WA to play for the Sandringham Zebras in an attempt to gain a second chance in the AFL.
AFL Victoria’s General Manager Grant Williams highlighted the role in the talent pathway the Peter Jackson VFL now plays, producing 16 AFL footballers last year and will continue to provide athletes with this opportunity in 2012.
“The Peter Jackson VFL competition provides a second chance to those players not drafted straight from the TAC Cup, and also gives opportunities to those players that may be delisted by AFL Clubs to highlight what they are capable of at a competitive state league level,” Williams said.
Draftees like Ahmed Saad (Northern Blues to St Kilda), James Magner (Sandringham to Melbourne), Orren Stephenson (North Ballarat to Geelong) and Tim Mohr (Casey Scorpions to GWS) showed that players of all ages and backgrounds could be provided an opportunity to reach the AFL through the VFL competition.
Williams explained how new programs that AFL Victoria has put in place are aimed to further develop the Peter Jackson VFL competition into a breeding ground for elite footballers.
“The introduction of the AFL Victoria Development League, formerly the reserves, will in time allow AFL and VFL Clubs the opportunity to better develop their players in a higher standard competition that has an emphasis primarily on development.
“Ultimately, the aim is to enhance and grow the talented player pool by providing young Victorian players the opportunity to reach their football potential,” Williams said.
“An AFL Victoria VFL Academy has also been introduced to complement existing programs across Peter Jackson VFL Clubs and AFL Victoria, providing an accelerated learning environment to develop a selected player’s potential to possibly be chosen by an AFL Club,” Mr Williams said.
The start of the Peter Jackson VFL season will see the return of the ABC TV broadcasts for 2012, after lengthy negotiations in the offseason. ABC TV’s coverage starts this weekend with local rivals, Coburg Tigers and the Northern Blues vying for the first four points of the season at 1:00pm.
“The ABC coverage is important for the competition to promote the sport, grow the game, as well as providing critical exposure for the competition, VFL Clubs and our partners.
“The coverage provides a vital link and service to the numerous football followers that are interested in supporting and watching State League level football; seeing the next generation of AFL players progress through the ranks, and local talent rise through the grades,” Williams said.
“The ABC coverage of the Peter Jackson VFL provides a platform for these players to showcase their talents to a state wide audience.”
The launch was also an opportunity for the competition to recognise its sponsors for 2012.
“We greatly appreciate the continued support of Peter Jackson, Acacia Learning Solutions, Ford and all our sponsors through their involvement in the VFL and welcome on board two new sponsors in Bailey Ladders and Dairy Australia,” Williams said.
The Peter Jackson VFL season start this Saturday March 24.
Picture 1: Sam Gibson, Shannon Grant and Adam Cockie
Picture 2: Peter Jackson VFL coaches who were in attendance: Hayden Skipworth, Damian Carroll, Gerard FitzGerald, Simon Goosey, Gary Ayres, Scott West, Simon McPhee
Last Modified on 22/03/2012 07:14