The Rebels Administration and Coaching staff has been very pleased with the quality of the work produced by the regions most elite and promising footballers over the past 5 months of the Rebels TAC Cup squad pre season.
Initially over 120 players across the Ballarat, Wimmera, South West and our new Warrnambool Talent regions took up the invitation to be a part of our pre season and all worked extremely hard 3 nights per week to improve their skills and fitness levels to a level which all could be proud of under the watchful eye of new Rebels coach, Glenn Wilkins.
No doubt that their hourâÂÂs of hard work will pay off for each of them during the 2009 season whether they are playing TAC Cup football with the Rebels or playing good football back at their local club or town.
The selection process for Rebels TAC Cup Playing Squad is always a very difficult task and one which staff takes very seriously. The hardest job for any coach or administrator is to tell a player that unfortunately they have missed out on making a particular team or squad. This year was even a more difficult task as we had many players similar in ability and size across the region.
Each player is considered to be one of the best or most promising within their league or club but at this level they need to take the next step with their skills, fitness, commitment and attitude.
Many players find their feet at a higher level and some struggle with the intensity and pace of the game. The players that do settle in and are able step up their intensity are the oneâÂÂs which excel in this elite Talented Player Pathway Program.
This process takes over the entire pre season with all players starting on a level playing field with no players getting easy ride even players that played Rebels in 2008 as a 17yr or 16yrs old are not an automatic selection.
Congratulations to the following players that have been successful in gaining selection into the initial 2009 Rebels TAC Cup Playing Squad. Like any squadâÂÂs, Players that are excelling outside this squad in local league football have the opportunity to be included as well as the players that have already been selected that donâÂÂt meet expectations may be released back to local football.
No. |
First Name |
Surname |
DOB |
Local Club |
1 |
Chris |
Giampaolo |
14/03/1991 |
Horsham Demons |
2 |
Richard |
Bamblett |
26/03/1992 |
Heywood |
3 |
Josh |
Cowan |
16/03/1991 |
Daylesford |
4 |
Dean |
Gavin |
05/07/1991 |
Koroit |
5 |
David |
Astbury |
26/02/1991 |
Tatyoon |
6 |
Lucas |
Cook |
03/03/1992 |
Hopetoun/Ballarat |
& Clarendon College |
7 |
Josh |
Free |
02/07/1991 |
Swan Hill/Ballarat |
& Clarendon College |
8 |
Ben |
Peters |
16/04/1991 |
Ballarat Swans |
9 |
Kurt |
Aylett |
02/04/1992 |
NSW/ Ballarat & Clarendon |
10 |
Jeremy |
McDonald |
07/01/1992 |
South Warrnambool |
11 |
Shaun |
Lyle |
15/08/1991 |
North Ballarat JFC |
12 |
Andrew |
Hooper |
18/01/1991 |
Golden Point |
13 |
Jandre |
Slabbert |
22/08/1992 |
Hamilton |
14 |
Oliver |
Tate |
23/06/1991 |
North Ballarat JFC |
15 |
Kevin |
Bourke |
28/03/1991 |
Warrnambool |
16 |
Matthew |
Sully |
15/10/1992 |
Emmanuel Hawks |
17 |
Chris |
McMahon |
31/01/1992 |
Swan Hill/Ballarat |
& Clarendon College |
18 |
Marcus |
Darmody |
26/10/1991 |
North Warrnambool |
19 |
Chris |
Curran |
04/04/1991 |
Horsham Demons |
20 |
Jake |
Garvey |
14/06/1990 |
Ballarat Swans |
21 |
Nathan |
Horbury |
11/09/1991 |
Redan |
22 |
Dylan |
Parish |
25/09/1991 |
Horsham Demons |
23 |
Pat |
Barber |
09/06/1992 |
Pimpinio |
24 |
Jake |
Ward |
07/01/1992 |
Horsham Demons |
25 |
Jake |
Dunne |
21/06/1992 |
East Point |
26 |
Liam |
Hoy |
12/12/1991 |
Warrnambool |
27 |
Tom |
McDonald |
18/09/1992 |
Edenhope/Apsley |
28 |
Angus |
Grigg |
29/11/1991 |
Ballarat Grammer |
29 |
Jordan |
Dillon |
04/04/1990 |
South Warrnambool |
30 |
Bill |
Barry |
06/07/1992 |
Sea Lake/Nandaly Tigers/ |
Ballarat & Clarendon |
31 |
Micheal |
O'Callaghan |
15/04/1992 |
Horsham Demons |
32 |
Martin |
Dufty |
29/06/1992 |
Nhill |
33 |
Jamie |
Mugavin |
09/01/1992 |
South Warrnambool |
34 |
Sam |
Dwyer |
28/12/1991 |
PortFairy |
35 |
Micheal |
Suban |
09/05/1992 |
Bacchus Marsh |
36 |
Simon |
Close |
07/03/1991 |
Harrow/Balmoral |
37 |
Ben |
Mabon |
14/06/1992 |
NSW/Ballarat & Clarendon |
38 |
Jarred |
Erlandson |
19/12/1992 |
NT/St Patricks College |
39 |
Jordan |
Alexander |
03/02/1992 |
North City |
40 |
Callum |
Currie |
25/11/1992 |
Casterton |
41 |
Nathan |
Kelly |
04/04/1992 |
Horsham Demons |
42 |
Chris |
Harry |
18/06/1991 |
East Point |
43 |
Lachlan |
Edwards |
30/03/1992 |
Hamilton Imperials |
44 |
Sam |
Cowling |
14/06/1991 |
Warrnambool |
45 |
James |
Kirby |
13/01/1992 |
Harrow/Balmoral |
Upcoming Practice Games & Events
Saturday 7th March - AFL Victoria Fitness Testing Day @ Victoria University, Footscray
Sunday 15th March - Pactice Match V Dandenong StingrayâÂÂs @ Learmonth Football Club
Sunday 22nd March - Practice Match V Geelong Falcons @ Learmonth Football Club
Friday 27th- Sunday 29th March - Playing Squad Leadership & Game Plan Camp
The Rebels TAC Season kicks off on Saturday 4th of April against the Murray Bushrangers at the QE Oval in Bendigo. Our 1st home game at the newly redeveloped Northern Oval will be in Round 5 on Saturday the 5th of April. This day will be a very important one as the Rebels will play the curtain Raiser to the 2008 VFL Premiership Team, the Roosters v Collingwood. The Rebels will be also holding their popular Parents and Sponsors Day in a corporate marquee beside the ground on the Day. Player Sponsorships are now available so be quick to secure your favourite your Rebel. For more information on the Rebels and their Talented Player Pathway programs please donâÂÂt hesitate to call Rebels Regional Manager, Phil Partington on 5339 0915.
Last Modified on 03/04/2009 23:29