West Coast Takes Out Tassal Challenge Cup for 2010

In cold and showery conditions the second annual Tassal Challenge Cup was staged yesterday at North Hobart Oval.  Players travelled from far and wide to compete in the carnival aimed with providing an opportunity for players from remote communities to come together and represent their region. 

The West Coast team, who narrowly missed road closures due to snow on the Lyell Highway travelling to and from Hobart , arrived a day early due to the extra long distance required for them to travel.  The team was hosted at North Hobart Oval by AFL Tasmania, where they enjoyed a meal and were shown presentations on Tasmania’s Talented Player Pathway by State Talent Manager Nick Probert before heading into town to enjoy the city lights and a game of Zone 3.

The preparation was clearly perfect for the West Coast team, who dominated their two games and won the Tassal Challenge Cup for 2010. 

At the presentation ceremony, West Coast Coach and well known coastal football identity Brett Schulze said

“The Tassal  Challenge Cup is a wonderful experience for our boys who would never otherwise get the opportunity to play on a ground like North Hobart and we are grateful to Tassal for its support of young players from remote communities”

The best player for the West Coast was Jack Dilger.

The East Coast team was the Runner Up in 2010, winning one game and losing one game. The best player for the East Coast was Ben Covington, with the Huon naming Cameron Johns as their best player. All best players received a football as their winning prize.

State Talent Manager Nick Probert said

“Despite the wintery conditions, the standard of football was impressive. Based on today’s performances AFL Tasmania will invite a group of boys to train for selection in the Under 16 State Academy squad when trials begin in February next year.”

 It is hoped that someone can follow in the footsteps of Jimmy Craik, who was selected in the State Under 16 team that won the National title after being identified at the 2009 Tassal Challenge Cup playing for the Tasman team.

West Coast Team

 Competition Results

CARNIVAL BEST PLAYERS:
East Coast/Tasman – Ben Covington
West Coast – Jack Dilger
Huon – Cameron Johns

GAME 1
West Coast 11.13 (79) def. East Coast/Tasman 2.2 (14)
GOALS – West Coast: Jordan Williams 4, Alex Dilger 3, Josh Frerk, Jack Dilger, Mark Dunham, Jarman Lockett, Jesse Hedrick. East Coast/Tasman: Tristan Barnett, Jesse Booth.
BEST – West Coast: Joel McDermott, Jack Dilger, Jordan Williams, Alex Dilger, Shane Thompson, Jarman Lockett. East Coast/Tasman: Ben Covington, Jake King, Mark Johnson, Billy Pace, Jesse Booth.

GAME 2
West Coast 10.14 (74) def. Huon 5.0 (30)
GOALS – West Coast: David Purdon 3, Jordan Williams 2, Jarman Lockett 2, Ryan Wheldon, Mark Dunham, Jack Dilger. Huon: Elliot Bryant 2, Fabian Reeve, Cameron Johns, Aaron Dance, Matt Coulson.
BEST – West Coast: Jed Bowman, David Purdon, Mark Dunham, Jack Dilger, Ryan Wheldon, Alistair Shea. Huon: Cameron Johns, Aaron Dance, Matt Coulson, Joshua O’Connor, Fabian Reeve, Elliot Bryant.

GAME 3
Huon 1.1 (7) def. by East Coast/Tasman 14.11 (95)
GOALS – Huon: James Thompson. East Coast/Tasman: Tristan Barnett 4, Jake King 3, Jeremy Chynoweth 3, Brendan Klok, Blake Anderton, Mark Johnson, Danny Knott.
BEST – Huon: Cameron Johns, Aaron Dance, Matt Coulson, Joshua O’Connor, Fabian Reeve, Elliot Bryant. East Coast/Tasman: Dylan Fyfe, Tristan Barnett, Ben Covington, Blake Anderton, Brendon Klok, Mark Johnson.

About the Tassal Challenge Cup

In a joint initiative AFL Tasmania, its Tasmanian State League Clubs and Tassal are providing  an opportunity for young footballers from isolated regions of Tasmania to represent their community in a regional football carnival that is known as the Tassal Challenge Cup.

The key objective of this unique competition is to further promote community and regional football, but more importantly to ensure all young footballers have the opportunity to be involved in the AFL Tasmania talent identification pathway.

Tassal’s General Manager Mark Ryan said, “Tassal is delighted to partner with AFL Tasmania on this great initiative. Tassal has a proud history of supporting football in Tasmania from grass roots through to Statewide League. As a proud Tasmanian company that employs over 450 people, many from regional Tasmania, we see enormous benefits for our youth in streamlining this process. We look forward to growing the Tassal Challenge Cup and nurturing talented young footballers in Tasmania.”

The Tassal Challenge Cup is providing a fantastic opportunity to those talented footballers to pursue their dream.

The teams participating in the 2010 Tassal Challenge Cup are from the following regions:

West Coast - The west coast communities of Strahan, Zeehan, Queenstown and Rosebery.

Tasman/East Coast – From the Tasman Peninsula, and the east coast communities of Triabunna, Swansea and Orford

Huon - The southern communities of Dover, Southport, Geeveston, Cygnet and Huonville

The selection process

Players were selected by local football administrators, coaches and teachers will be from the U14- U15 (Grade 8 & 9) age groups.  They were also assisted by AFL Tasmania staff and Development staff from their relevant State League Club.

Players selected in the Tassal Challenge Cup are preferably not to have participated in State League Talent Identification Series.  At the discretion of a selection panel, any players deemed at the level are able to be included in the Northern or Southern representative squads as additional members of that squad.

The inaugural competition took place in 2009 and was a great success, with the Tasman team taking out the title at North Hobart Oval.