By Brad Kingsbury
THE under18 TAC Cup is a unique competition.
It has been going since 1993 and was initiated and developed as a replacement for the old VFL under 19s competition as a way of fasttracking the most talented juniors to the top level.
Critics have labelled it as contrived, with little emphasis on the team and most interest in promoting the individual player to be the best he can, with the only prize being a position on an AFL list via the draft.
Obviously nobody explained that to the Gippsland Power and Dandenong Stingrays players that fought out a tough, uncompromising and entertaining grand final at the MCG on Saturday.
While recruiters furiously made their notes throughout the game, not one of the 44 players had anything except doing what was required to win a premiership on his mind.
Emphasising that was the emotion in the opposing change rooms afterwards, which ranged from extraordinary happiness to utter despair.
Some of the day’s main participants volunteered their thoughts on the game:
PAUL HUDSON (Gippsland Power coach)
It’s my first year in the job and I knew we had a good bunch coming through.
No one had got within 10 goals of the group at under16 level, so obviously there was some talent there.
They proved that they are quality kids today.
To come together only once a week and then do what they did was a remarkable achievement.
GRAEME YEATS (Dandenong Stingrays’ coach)
We had more inside 50s than the Power, but couldn’t convert and that was the difference.
I’m proud of the players’ development this year. They are highquality young men who have worked hard in their sport and as individuals.
Our preparation was spoton and we had what we believed to be our best 22 on the field.
PETER FRANCIS (Power football manager)
In terms of development for the region I think it’s enormous.
We’re trying to encourage participation in the sport and this sort of thing will encourage kids to come and play at the local level and aspire to play with Gippsland Power.
The staff has been amazing too. Some of them have been with the side for 12 or 13 years and it’s been great for them.
DARREN FLANAGAN (Stingrays’ football manager)
The boys tried their guts out, but weren’t good enough on the day.
To Gippsland’s credit they simply ran our blokes around and created the opportunities they needed to win the game.
It’s always hard to tell with a new group each year, but they came together well and won some early games, struggled a bit in the midseason, but came home strongly to earn their grandfinal place.
CAMERON STEWART (Stingrays’ assistant and runner)
They were simply too good for us today, it’s as simple as that.
We came at them at the end like we have in the past, but they kicked a couple of important goals and steadied when they had to.
Good luck to them, but I’m proud of these blokes and the way they have developed and presented themselves this year.
DALE THOMAS (Power’s bestonground medallist from Drouin)
It’s the first time I’ve played on (the MCG) and it was everything I could have expected.
We went away on a few camps and set ourselves some goals and one of them was to be here today.
We achieved that and went one better.
We stuck to our routine before the game and treated it as just another game of footy, only on a bigger stage.
LACHLAN HANSEN (Power defender from Nar Nar Goon)
I can’t believe that we actually got here in the first place.
To win it means the world, it’s awesome.
We walked out on to the ground yesterday and I was just overawed and then playing on it with the crowd going off was just unbelievable.
I’m still an under18 next year and hopefully we can make it again.
BRETT DORE (Power key forward from Nar Nar Goon)
I knew we had a good side and I had a strange feeling we might get in (the grand final) but I never thought we’d win it.
We evened out a lot this year and we’ve got more depth in our side.
Having some different coaching was good too.
TYSON GOLDSACK (Power ruckman from Pakenham)
I was struggling at the start of the year and it wasn’t until after the Victorian Country Championships that I got my chance.
I was on the list from the start, but I hadn’t got a game until then and then I managed to hold my spot.
I played mainly in the ruck but I was just happy to be on the ground.
RICKY DELPHINE (Power onballer from Pakenham)
I knew we had a good side and after round one I thought we could be here today.
I know a few of the Stingray boys, being from Pakenham and there’s a bit of rivalry there.
Playing on the MCG was unbelievable and it’s what you play footy for.
