TAC Cup 2010

[comrade]

The fixture has just been released and the season kicks off with Metro Week on March 21st (Visy Park). A triple header featuring each of the Metro teams, the first game (Cannons vs Jets) starts at 10am.

The fixture can be found here

This thread is for all things TAC Cup in 2010 - should be a good year of underage footy.

[chef]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Does anyone know if Lachlan Hunter is a chance to play any TAC footy this year?

[Mantis]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Does anyone know if Lachlan Hunter is a chance to play any TAC footy this year?

I don't think so as his name didn't appear on the Jets pre-season training list.

[Missing Dog]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Does anyone know if Lachlan Hunter is a chance to play any TAC footy this year?

I think you will find he is in the u/16 development squad and will play the year for Williamstown as he was bottom age last year.

[chef]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

I think you will find he is in the u/16 development squad and will play the year for Williamstown as he was bottom age last year.

Thanks mate.

[comrade]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Anyone going next week? Hopefully I can make it (at least to the Calder game) but I may be interstate for work.

[Happy Days]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Am contemplating going to the Oakleigh game, but no guarantee on that.

[GVGjr]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Anyone going next week?

I'll just about be locking it in.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

I'll just about be locking it in.

Tragics, the pair of you!

[comrade]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Tragics, the pair of you!

Gotta make sure our 2 young guns are on the right track...

[comrade]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

For those who are interested, the Cannons are playing a round of practice matches against the Northern Knights tomorrow morning at Vic Park.

2 U/18 games are planned with the first starting at 10am (both Libba and Wallis have been named in what looks like the 'probables' team) and the second game commencing at 12pm (the 'possibles').

An U/16 game is also scheduled for a 2pm start.

The better half is out for the day so I might just have to wander down and have a look at the first game.

Will come back with a report.

[chef]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

For those who are interested, the Cannons are playing a round of practice matches against the Northern Knights tomorrow morning at Vic Park.

2 U/18 games are planned with the first starting at 10am (both Libba and Wallis have been named in what looks like the 'probables' team) and the second game commencing at 12pm (the 'possibles').

An U/16 game is also scheduled for a 2pm start.

The better half is out for the day so I might just have to wander down and have a look at the first game.

Will come back with a report.

Excellent

[comrade]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

Game about to start - Wallis is captain today. He looks like he's grown a couple of cm.

[comrade]

Re: TAC Cup 2010

A perfect day for watching some U/18.

As I posted from the ground (thanks iPhone!), Wallis was designated captain. He’s noticeably bigger - both in height and general build. It’s obvious that he’s hit the weights over summer and is a very good size for a junior midfielder.

The game was reasonably scrappy (to be expected at this time of the year), with too many players sucked into chasing the ball. It meant that a lot of the game was played with a heaving scrum battling for the hard ball.

The Knights took it up the Cannons and held their own for most of the game, but at times the Cannons class shone out with some very classy running goals whereas the Knights really had to battle to put a score on the board.

Both Wallis and Liberatore started the game in the middle, with Libba in right on the circle and Wallis in a more outside position (on the left hand side of the ruck contest facing the Cannon goals). Wallis had 3 hard won contested possessions in the first couple of minutes.

As was the case last year, Wallis is a prime play maker for the Cannons and his handball receives count was up today as he continuously runs past a contest looking for possession. He was also unlucky at times today as he’d make good position a head of the play, but his team mate would look in board rather than up the ground.

He had plenty of opposition attention for most of the game and played in a number of spots (in the middle, half forward, one out at centre half forward).

He kicked a classy goal off one step under some pressure and finished the game with about 20 or so touches.

Libba was a bit quieter but did a lot of contested work. Some of his handballs were fantastic - just perfectly weighted out of congestion to a player running past. He has an innate ability to make the right decisions in traffic that can’t be taught (in my opinion).

He teamed up with Wallis a few times (no doubt perfected in their backyards since they were pups) which made me smile and think of what might be heading our way for the next 10-15 years.

His kicking was off today though - a few times rather than lowering his vision and finding a short target, he’d kick long to a teammate that was outnumbered. This caused 2 or 3 turnovers.

He was rotated off in the last quarter but came back on with about 10 minutes to go and took a mark about 60 metres out, sidestepped an opponent and hit up a stationary forward in the pocket. It was a great little piece of play.

Cannons probably won by 3 or so goals - I was focused on player watching, rather than the result.

Other notable players for the Cannons were Meli, a nippy African(?) player who did some fantastic things. Very good hands, impressive movement and kicked a long goal from a set shot. I’ll be watching his development closely.

Prestia was also good, after a great year in 2009. He’s an absolute battering ram - completely fearless at the contest. His kicking (which I had as a question mark) was very good, other than one terrible shank.

Michael Talia (Daniel’s brother) played as a key defender. He struggled with his positioning at times and got caught under the ball too often. He showed some good dash towards the end of the game but at this stage, he’s no where near his brother.

Dylan Buckley played for the Knights and showed some genuine leg speed.

Any questions, I try my best to answer.

[comrade]

Re: TAC Cup 2010



Wallis tossing the coin




Wallis with the ball




Libba with the ball