AFTER five premierships in the Noughties, Calder Cannon opens a new decade as the most successful club in the TAC Cup history.
While the Cannons dominated like no other club, the cyclical nature of the competition coupled with some subtle structuring changes ensures that all clubs start the 2010 on level footing.
CALDER CANNONS
Last season: 10-8
Finish: Premiers
Drafted players: Jake Melksham (No. 10 Essendon), Daniel Talia (No. 13, Adelaide), Jake Carlisle (No. 24 Essendon), Josh Toy (Gold Coast), Taylor Hine (Gold Coast)
Rookie players: Robbie Hicks (Richmond), Tom Hunter (Collingwood)
Players to watch: Matthew Watson – tall defender, tall forward; Dion Prestia – quality midfielder, uses ball to advantage. Good decision maker; Cameron Guthrie – utility
player, smart user of the ball
Coach’s view: “It’s a different year, half the list has moved on to hopefully bigger and better things whether that’s local footy, VFL or AFL. We’ve listed more top aged boys this year that have developed at local clubs that are capable now of playing TAC Cup football. How will we go? I think we are probably a little stronger in our depth. Our top end is not too bad, so I think we will be okay. Our aim is to win more games than we lose. Last year our strength were our talls, this year we don’t have as many. I think this year we will be relying on our mid-size players running through midfield.” Marty Allison
BENDIGO PIONEERS
Last season: 4-14
Finish: 12th
Drafted players: Dustin Martin (No. 3, Richmond), Jordan Williams (No. 57, Hawthorn)
Rookie players:
Players to watch: Anthony Dennis – midfielder returning from last year’s list. Great work ethic; Lucas Anderson – another second year player who stood out in defence. Good decision maker; strong defensive skills and uses ball to advantage; Cameron Valentine – bottom age player who came through the Under 16 program. Plenty of upside.
Coach’s view: “We started off with more than 130 boys trying out and we’ve got that down to 36. We think we have a good mix of taller guys and medium-sized and some good bottom age boys pushing up. Like most of the teams it’s a little bit of the unknown until we get going. We want to be very competitive. It’s a very coachable list and we’ll be looking for good development across the list during the year. “ Mark Ellis
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
Last season: 11-7
Finish: Runners-up
Drafted players: Tom Scully (No. 1, Melbourne), Ryan Bastinac (No. 21, North Melbourne), Anthony Long (No. 33, Essendon), Rohan Kerr (No. 59, Carlton), Matthew Shaw (Gold Coast)
Rookie players: Levi Casboult (Carlton)
Players to watch: Andy McInnes – key position defender who is tough and uncompromising in his attack on the ball. Good in one-on-one contests; Matt Buntine – bottom age boy, enjoyed very good Under 16 Championship carnival last year, good reader of the game. Shapes as quality, rebounding defender; Todd Elton – 195 cm developing forward/ruckman. Good endurance and speed.
Coach’s view: “We’re not going to handcuff ourselves to any set predictions. We would like to think anything is possible with this group. In 2009 I thought we batted down to about 25 – 28 in our depth chart, but this year I think we bat down to 32-35. While our top end talent might not be as good, I think our depth is better. We are encouraged by the development of our younger payers. Our depth in the midfield and down the spine is something that I would like to think is going to assist us throughout the season.” Graeme Yeats
EASTERN RANGES
Last season: 11-7
Finish: Fourth
Drafted players: Andrew Moore (No. 9, Port Adelaide), Jordan Gysberts (No. 11, Essendon), Ben Griffiths (No. 19, Richmond), Ayden Kennedy (No. 41, North Melbourne)
Rookie players: Matthew Scott (North Melbourne), Josh Dyson (Brisbane)
Players to watch: Kieran Harper – Very athletic utility with great vertical leap. Member of the 2008 AIS/AFL Academy; Aaron Young – Versatile mid-sized player, very strong above his head, fiercely competitive. Member of the AIS/AFL Academy; Brad Harvey – Very quick, good vertical leap. Midfielder/wingman known for his inside style and great work rate.
Coach’s view: “I’ve only had the boys for about eight weeks after starting the job in late December and then coming back in late January. I’ve found them a very willing group who want to listen and learn. The longer they player together and get used to what we are trying to implement the better they will be. We’ve got some AIS boys and boys who played Vic Metro last year and some who played Vic Metro Under 16. We’re not overly big, but we have an even group who I’m sure will be competitive and really give their all every week.” Darren Bewick
GEELONG FALCONS
Last season: 17-1
Finish: Third
Drafted players: Ben Cunnington (No. 5, North Melbourne), Gary Rohan (No. 6, Sydney), Jasper McMillan-Pittard (No. 16 Port Adelaide), Callum Bartlett (No. 27 Brisbane), Allen Christensen (No. 40 Geelong), Piers Flanigan (Gold Coast)
Rookie players: Luke Thompson (Adelaide), Joe Dare (Carlton)
Players to watch: Billie Smedts – awarded best Falcons player of last year’s finals when he played in defence. Swing player who is just as effective in attack or around the square; Luke Dahlhaus – fast midfielder, great agility and ability to win the ball and get out of trouble; Mitchell Fisher – powerful on-baller who played in defence last year, but has switched to a midfield role this season.
Coach’s view: “Last year we had a very successful year and we had some really high draft picks. This year we have a more even list and we’re looking for a bunch of players to develop than any single one. And, I think that’s going to be a real strength. We seem to have a really even mix of talls and smalls. In the past we have been one way or the other, but I think we have a good balance and blend and I think we are going to be pretty quick. We’ve got about 21 players who were on the list or who were on development lists and having five 19-year-olds on the list who have been part of the program will boost that number. We’ve got about eight boys who were in the Under 16 Country squad and while we won’t see all of them in Round 1, but during the year they are going to give us some really good depth.” Paul Hood
GIPPSLAND POWER
Last season: 11-7
Finish: Fifth
Drafted players: John Butcher (No. 8, Port Adelaide), Koby Stevens (No. 23, West Coast), Nathan Vardy (No. 42, Geelong)
Rookie players: Mitchell Golby (Brisbane)
Players to watch: Jed Lamb – he kicked 47.25 last year, but expectations are that he will play more of a midfield role this season; Tim Northe – joint best and fairest from last year. Midfielder/half forward who still has much to offer; Dyson Heppell – captain. One of the better players in last year’s finals. Very composed, damaging, long left foot kick who provides plenty of drive.
Coach’s view: “It’s very hard in this competition to get a really good guide on what’s going to unfold with such a massive turn over of players. We have some good top aged boys returning and we’re sure they’re going to help us and we have a good group from last year’s Under 16s coming through. I’ve been really pleased with how they’ve gone about their pre-season training. We might not be as tall as last year, but our depth is pretty good. I think we’ll be quite a fast team and we’re reasonably fit and I’m looking for us to be a team that is really strong in running games out. We’ll be trying to play an attacking and free flowing game. What is exciting is to see where this group can go. I was proud of what the club achieved last year and know everyone is really keen to see what this year holds.” Damien Carroll
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY
Expansion team
Players to watch: Alex Carey – represented SA in last year’s AFL Under 18 Championships. Very skilful midfielder who is very clean with his touch, good decision maker; Bayanda Sobetwa – South African who is expected to be an excitement machine; Nick Collins – speedy midfield/forward. Played in AFL Under 16 National Championships for NSW/ACT.
Coach’s views: “It will be a development year for us. We will be very young and very inexperienced. We have relocated five boys from southern NSW/ACT and Northern Territory that come under our jurisdiction from the list establishment rules. We have contracted Alex Carey from South Australia and Tom Hill, the Northern Knights captain. We have 30 boys who are on scholarships to existing AFL clubs and we have invited in another seven or eight from the State zone trials. During the course of the season we’ll probably play another 10 players from southern NSW/ACT and Northern Territory. We expect to play 55 players during the season and those players age will range from 15-18. It’s a very diverse group, very inexperienced. We’re very small and very light. It’s a massive challenge, but also a very exciting one.” Alan McConnell
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS
Last season: 7-10-1
Finish: 10th
Drafted players: Sam Reid (No. 38, Sydney), Brayden Norris (No. 53, North Melbourne), Taylor Duryea (No. 69, Hawthorn), Alex Keath (Gold Coast)
Rookie players: Dylan McNeil (Sydney)
Players to watch: Shaun Atley – member of Vic Country Under 18 squad last year; Mark Whiley – good composure and balance, good decision maker; Brendan Allen – captain of Assumption College last year who played sparingly last year. Returns as a19-year-old. Midfielder who wins plenty of the football.
Coach’s view: “I think we have a very even bunch and will be very competitive. We have a reasonable spread among talls and quicks and midfield types. A good mix is going to help us be in the mix. We have quite a few boys involved in the Vic country and NSW/ACT programs. We have a lot of 17-year-olds, most of them are untried at this level and I suppose they are the unknown quality. It’s pretty much a waiting game to see how some of those boys shape up. If they can take the next step then we are going to be okay.” Darren Ogier
NORTH BALLARAT REBELS
Last season: 9-8-1
Finish: Seventh
Drafted players: David Ashtbury (No 35 Richmond), Matt Dea (No 44, Richmond), Josh Cowan (No. 56, Geelong)
Rookie players: Andrew Hooper (Western Bulldogs)
Players to watch: Lucas Cook – key position prospect who can play either end. Involved with last year’s AIS/AFL Academy; Kurt Aylett – outside midfielder who ran a 15.7 beep test on the fitness day. Runs the lines strongly; Ben Mabon – developing ruckman who continues to improve.
Coach’s view: “We’re really happy with the list we have assembled. The boys have worked really hard during the pre-season. We tested really well in most areas so the foundation is there for us to be a fit team. We have a bit of size across the board. This year I would like us to be a bit more of a running team. I’d like us to take the opposition on and run a lot more than we did last year when we were defence orientated. What is encouraging is that we have a lot of good bottom age boys coming through and that augurs well for our depth.” Glen Wilkins
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
Last season: 9-9
Finish: Eighth
Drafted players: Sam Grimley (No. 39, Hawthorn), Dylan Grimes (No. 2 Preseason Draft, Richmond)
Rookie players: Jarryd Cachia (Carlton)
Players to watch: Josh Caddy – midfielder, around the square player, tough competitor, strong leader; Stephen Witkowski – missed much of last season through injury. Mid-sized player who moves well; Dylan Buckley – AFL/AIS scholarship holder. Played much of his junior career on-baller/wing, but he’s been played in defence in practice matches.
Coach’s view: “I think we’ll be reasonably strong. We’ve had a couple of good hit outs. We have a number of guys who are in line for the Metro 17s and 18s, there’s definitely some good calibre players. We don’t have that many really tall players. We’re going to have to be really good with our hand and foot skills. Controlled possession is going to be pretty important for us. Our list is more weighted to the bottom age boys so we may be giving away a bit of experience, but we’re committed to giving a lot of bottom age exposure.” Anthony Allen
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
Last season: 7-10-1
Finish: Ninth
Drafted players: Jamie MacMillan (No. 37 North Melbourne), Sam Shaw (No. 45, Adelaide), Ben Sinclair (No. 62, Collingwood)
Rookie players:
Players to watch: Alex Johnson – captain, leads strongly from the front. He can play either as a hit-up key forward and has the ability to play on a wing. Very good aerobically; Tom Gordon – key position defender who can also play forward; aggressive spoiler, clean disposal; Andrew Gaff – member of last year’s Vic Metro team. Finds the football, versatile. Very selfless player
Coach’s view: “We rate the list quite highly, definitely above last year’s list, in terms of its athletic ability. The depth is greater. We have a number of boys who played last year in the Vic Metro Under 16 squad and they have developed well and fast tracked themselves. We are much taller across the board. While we don’t have the stand out height of last year we have 25 boys who are 190cm or just over the 190 cm mark and most of those boys are fairly athletic. They are not one trick ponies, they can play in a variety of positions. We can be quite flexible with our forwards and they have the ability to be effective when the ball hits the ground. ” Steve Grace
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
Last season: 4-14
Finish: 13th
Drafted players: Jack Gunston (No. 29 Adelaide), Max Gawn (No. 34 Melbourne), Tom Nicholls (Gold Coast), Jack Hutchins (Gold Coast)
Rookie players:
Players to watch: Cam Sharp – best first year player last season, midfielder who covers ground well, huge work rate; Sam Frost – bottom age player who is a private schooler. Great athleticism, most competitive, displayed really positive signs; Ben Jacobs – outstanding talent who was a Metro representative last year.
Coach’s view: “I think we have more depth on our list than we had last year. Even when our private school kids don’t play I would expect us to be very competitive. We’ve had a pretty good pre-season, we’re in better shape than we were last season. Our game is going to be based around our quick movement of the football and breaking the lines. Even our bigger kids are quite mobile and cover the ground well. We’ve certainly got an athletic squad.” Dale Tapping
WESTERN JETS
Last season: 6-11-1
Finish: 11th
Drafted players: Jack Fitzpatrick (No 50, Melbourne), Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast)
Rookie players: Majak Daw (North Melbourne)
Players to watch: Will Hoskin-Elliott - bottom-age player who can play in the midfield, oozes class. Elliot Kavanagh, another both bottom aged player with outstanding ability. Exciting midfielder; Brayden Snedden – developing 19YO ruckman.
Coach’s view: “We haven’t got what I would say is many real standouts, just a good even list and that’s good because it keeps a fair deal of pressure on the players in the team each week. It was something that we didn’t have last year. We don’t have a lot of key position players, we have a small list, but what is pleasing is for the players to maintain their intensity and not get complacent. I think last year we had some players who were pretty comfortable where they were at. That’s something that we can’t afford to have this year. While we may not be blessed with a team of good ball users, our commitment to the contest is something that we have worked on. Our defensive pursuit over pre-season and ability to pressure the opposition and win the hard ball has been good and I’m sure it’s going to be a strength for us all season.” Steve Kretiuk
Last Modified on 07/04/2010 15:56