Walter Pless on Football

“Australian FourFour Two” has decided to discontinue the pages dealing with the various State bodies in Australia.

Tasmanian football and players received considerable coverage this year in that section of the magazine.

The Tilford Zebras photo that appeared in the recent edition of Australian FourFourTwo

Billy Gasparinatos and Marcello Marchioli featured in the ‘Rising Star’ section, while Tilford Zebras made the ‘Why should we watch you?’ section.

‘The big match preview’ featured the South Hobart versus Metro game, and Igor, Ben Crosswell and Liam Scott were included in the 50 best players in Australia outside the A-League section.

New Town Eagles will feature in an upcoming issue and so will Hobart United. But, that will be the end of coverage for Tasmania and the other States.

The editors say that there was no noticeable increase in sales as a result of the inclusion of the State League section from around Australia and so the budget has been re-directed.

I don’t know what the budget was because I did it for nothing so I don’t think my contributions broke the bank.

Perhaps FFT was paid something. After all, the sections always carried the FFT logo for some reason. I doubt that many board members would have known of the existence of the magazine, let alone the regular Tasmanian sections.

In a way, I can’t blame the magazine’s editors. I kept looking in newsagencies and there were always dozens of copies of “Australian FourFourTwo” lying around unsold, even though there was a regular Tasmanian section.

That’s where apathy gets us, I guess. We just don’t support publications that support us.

Evans no longer part of the team

By Walter Pless

Richard Evans, the Football Federation Tasmania coaching and development manager, has been relieved of his position as coach of the Tasmanian under-21 team which will play four matches against A-League youth sides next month.

Chairman of FFT, Steve Gasparinatos, said Evans had many other duties to attend to and it was fitting that the coach of the State senior men’s team, Eamonn Kelly, take over as coach of the under-21s.

Evans is currently in China as part of a previous commitment he had with the NSW governing body for football.

He was recruited from NSW by FFT despite knowledge of this commitment, which would take him out of the State at a critical time.

Tasmania’s under-21s play their first match on Friday, 7 November, at the Sydney Football Stadium against Sydney FC’s A-League youth side.

The southern members of the State under-21s go through a warm-up routine

Contrary to previous plans, the Tasmanians will now travel to Sydney on the day of the match, which will give them scant time to acclimatise and prepare for the late-afternoon kick-off.

Dane Hudson and Michael Edwards, who had been announced as assistant coaches and part of a panel of five coaches, have also been stood down, although Edwards will be involved in the Sydney match.

And, Tasmania will now not play Adelaide United’s youth side at North Hobart on Saturday, 15 November, but will instead play Queensland Roar’s A-League youth side at the same venue and on the same day.

This is because Adelaide’s A-League side has had its scheduled match that day postponed because it has reached the final of the Asian Champions League, where it will meet Japanese side Gamba Osaka on a home-and-away basis.

Coach Eamonn Kelly watches his charges

Tasmania’s other games are against Melbourne Victory Youth at North Hobart on Saturday, 29 November, and Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday, 5 December.

Kelly said he did not mind the change as it means Tasmania would now play four different clubs rather than just three.

The 11 southerners in the State squad training at KGV Park

FFT has still to appoint a new CEO following the departure of Martin Shaw late last month.

Reports indicate the new CEO will commence on 17 November but the identity of the successful candidate remains a mystery.

* * * * *

State coach Eamonn Kelly has been announced as the coach of Glenorchy Knights for the next Premier League season, as well as the 2010 season.

Reports in Newcastle papers said that he had been tipped to take over South Cardiff in Northern NSW, but he said he and the club had not been able to come to an agreement about financial terms.

Meanwhile, Ian Parker has declined the opportunity to continue as coach of New Town Eagles after two seasons at the club and may sit out next season.

* * * * *

Former Tasmanian State director of coaching, Steve Darby, has left his Malaysian club, Perak, and has been appointed as assistant coach of Thailand’s national team.

Former Manchester City captain, Peter Reid, is Thailand’s new coach.

And, Tasmania’s Alex Cisak has been selected as a goalkeeper for the Australian under-20 national side for a tournament in Saudi Arabia next month which will also double as the qualifying series for the next World Youth Cup.

Meanwhile, Ken Morton and John McGirr, representing the group trying to form a Tasmanian A-League side, were in Sydney today to talk to a Tasmanian-born property developer with links to Sydney FC about financial support for a Tasmanian bid.

Morton then appeared on Fox Sports lunchtime program and was interviewed about Tasmania’s bid.

Change in Youth Team opponents

By Walter Pless

Tasmania’s youth side will now play Queensland Roar’s A-League youth side at North Hobart on 15 November rather than Adelaide United.

Adelaide United have had their A-League match that day postponed because of their appearance in the final of the Asian Champions League and this has necessitated the change.

Tasmania coach Eamonn Kelly welcomed the new opponents.

Eamonn Kelly

“It means that we now get to play four different A-League sides rather than just three and that will be a better test for us,” Kelly said.

Kelly, incidentally, has also just been appointed coach of Glenorchy Knights for at least the next two years, with an option for a third.

The Tasmanian youth side will train at KGV Park on Wednesday night, 29 October, and then again at the same venue on this coming Saturday (noon) and Sunday (10am).

The 15-man squad to travel to Sydney for the match against Sydney FC’s youth side will be announced at KGV on Sunday at 1pm.

Coach and physio watch the players warming up

Ian Parker has stepped down as coach of New Town Eagles for next season and the club is on the hunt for a new coach.

Meanwhile, former State coaching director Steve Darby has been appointed assistant coach of Thailand.

He will be second-in-charge to Peter Reid, the former Manchester City star.

Igor Oliveira Sao Jose has been named as Premier League club Glenorchy Knights’ best-and-fairest player and leading goalscorer, while goalkeeper Ben Peter was the players’ player-of-the-year.

In the reserves, Carlos Fuentes was the leading scorer, Marcus Burn the best and fairest, and Peter Frank the players’ player-of-the-year.

Brodie Green took out the Under-19 best-and-fairest award and the players’ player award, while Will Stalker was the most improved and Amadu Koroma the top scorer.

Anthony Grundy and Marina Brkic were awarded life membership.

Stacey Bennett was the Women’s Premier League best-and-fairest player, Brenda Nevin the players’ player and Lauren Griffiths-Lee the leading scorer.

In Women’s Division One, Steevie Coulson was the leading scorer, Jemma Dacy the best and fairest, Michelle Luck the players’ player of the year and Agnes Parr took out the encouragement award.

Spencer Gibbs was the top scorer in the men’s Division Three side, while Jarrod Cumming was the best-and-fairest player and Tony Dzelalija the player’s player of the year.

Knights are on the hunt for a coach for next season.

Janko Begovic and Josh Fielding were the joint player-coaches this past season.

* * * * *

Central defender and State representative Hugh Ludford took out Premier League champion South Hobart’s best-and-fairest award and the players’ player-of-the-year honour.

He also won the coach’s award.

Defender Liam Scott, who has had trials with the Joeys, Australia’s under-17 national side, was the most consistent, and Greg Downes, who trialed with English clubs Sunderland and Walsall this year, was the most improved player.

Billy Gasparinatos was South Hobart’s leading goalscorer.

Other award winners were: (Premier Reserves) Best and Fairest: Nathan Wardle; Players’ player: Julius Ross; Most consistent: Greg Downes; Most improved: Trent Pearce; Coaches Award: Simon Burrett; Leading Goalscorer: Rowan Franklin. (Premier Women) Best and Fairest: Hanna Manuella; Players’ player: Hanna Manuella; Most consistent: Danielle Raymond; Most improved: Brigitte Raymond; Coaches Award: Sabella Ormandy-Neal; Leading Goalscorer: Amy Witney. (Under 19s): Best and Fairest: Rory McCullum; Players player: Rory McCullum; Most consistent: Ned Clarke; Most improved: Daniel Philips; Coaches Award: Rory McCullum; Leading Goalscorer: James Wilkinson. (Div 1 Women’s) Best and Fairest: Rosie Hunt, Players’ player: Issy Hardwick; Most consistent: Tegan Barber; Most improved: Suzanne Harris; Coaches Award: Rosie Hunt; Leading Goalscorer: Zena Husari. (Div 2 Men) Best and Fairest: Will Robinson; Players’ player: Luke Aitken; Most consistent: Seth-Van Hyster; Most improved: Gavin Wailes; Coaches Award: Jess Singh; Leading Goalscorer: Eddy Mohamed. (President’s Award) Colin Wain; (Chairman’s Award) Bart Beecroft; (Junior Clubman) Greg Downes; (Club person of the year) Katie Barker; (Club Leading Goal Scorer) Andy Brennan.

Tasmania versus Heidelberg [Men’s Match, KGV park, Saturday, 18 October 2008]

By Walter Pless
____________________________________________________

Tasmania 3 (White 30, Ladic 50, McKenna 73)
Heidelberg 4 (Hockless 11, Gasparis 41, 57, Groenewald 89)

HT: 1-2 Att: 500 Ref: I Jozeljic

Tasmania: Pooley - Scott Wilson, Mulraney, Ludford, Scott - Bobby Eaves, Hingston, Ladic, Igor - McKenna, White [Substitutes: S Howe, Gasparinatos, Ambrose, Claxton, Pitchford]

Heidelberg: Laino - Ameti, Roberts, Stefanou, Vassiliadis - Groenewald, Ouliaris, Jones, Gasparis - Tsiorlas, Hockless [Substitutes: Doumbalas, Saglam, Paton]
_______________________________________________________

Heidelberg were a class or two above Tasmania, but the home side could not be faulted for effort.

Heidelberg’s team work was impressive and the players’ technique, skill and vision were first class.

They had not trained or played for five weeks since finishing fourth on the Victorian ladder and losing in the preliminary final, so their victory was all the more creditable.

Match Officials(L-R): Ian Colhoun, Patrick Galloway, Ivan Jozeljic, Sean Collins

Tasmania relied on a penalty - Daniel White had his spot-kick saved but scored from the rebound - and a free-kick to get two of their three goals, but only some excellent goalkeeping by Heidelberg’s 17-year-old keeper, Chris Laino, prevented Tasmania from possibly getting a draw.

Laino produced brilliant saves in the second half against White, Billy Gasparinatos and Chris McKenna.

Tasmania

Just as a draw appeared inevitable, Josh Groenewald headed the winner a minute from the end, after a short corner by Rudy Saglam and a chip into the box by Heidelberg captain, Tony Ouliaris.

Substitute goalkeeper Nathan Pitchford came out for a ball he could never reach and Groenewald, despite being under pressure from other defenders, nodded home.

Graham Hockless, the winner of the gold medal for Victoria’s best-and-fairest player, was outstanding, as was midfielder Marinos Gasparis.

Heidelberg

Hockless has been on trial with A-League club Perth Glory. He hopped off a plane from Perth on Friday night and onto the plane for Hobart on Saturday morning.

Gasparis teased and tormented the Tasmanian defenders and his second goal was marvellous. He waltzed past two defenders and slotted the ball past a flat-footed Marshall Pooley in the Tasmanian goal.

He weaved similar magic later in the match but was unable to notch a hat-trick.

Heidelberg’s speed and team-work mesmerised Tasmania in the opening minutes and Hockless put them ahead in the 11th minute with a fine drive from 30 metres that flashed past Pooley’s right hand and into the corner of the net.

Chris McKenna challenges Peter Roberts (no. 2) in the air as Igor looks on

It was like a game of keepings-off in grids at training at this stage, with Heidelberg always having the numbers, the moves and the touches to retain possession.

Tasmania’s first chance came in the 13th minute, but Bobby Eaves drove over the bar from range.

Three minutes later, Hockless put Mark Tsiorlas through, but he fired wide.

Tasmania’s second chance came from a free-kick in the 20th minute, but Igor shot high.

Tasmania’s Scott Wilson closes down Heidelberg’s Rudy Saglam (No. 20)

Hockless was totally dominant in a deeper creative role as the game wore on and, in the 24th minute, he fed Ouliaris, who chipped over the bar from inside the box when he should have scored.

In the 27th minute, Tsiorlas cut in from the left, but Pooley managed to block his shot from an acute angle.

Tasmania earned a penalty on the half-hour mark when an off-balance Peter Roberts swept the ball away with his hand.

Laino blocked White’s poor spot-kick, but to his tremendous relief, White was first to the rebound and drove the ball home to make it 1-1.

Tasmania lost key defender Hugh Ludford in the 32nd minute through concussion after a hefty collision with Groenewald. Tim Claxton came on as the replacement.

Heidelberg’s Daniel Jones (No. 3) surrounded by Tasmanian players

Heidelberg escaped a certain goal in the 37th minute when Scott Wilson put Igor away and James Stefanou headed off the line.

Four minutes before the interval, Ouliaris chipped into the box and Gasparis made it 2-1 for Heidelberg with a clinical finish past a static home defence.

This match was played using interchange rather than substitution and this spoiled the game in a way as a spectacle with constant changes by Heidelberg in the second half. They probably needed this system, though, given that they had had just one training session before this game after a five-week break.

Tasmania drew level again in the 50th minute when Heidelberg conceded a free-kick 30 metres from goal down the Tasmanian inside-left channel.

Ladic scores for Tasmania to make it 2-2.

Jonathon Ladic struck a fine shot into the left side of the net past a stranded Laino, who for once looked vulnerable, to make it 2-2.

Igor missed a great chance in the 53rd minute when White’s accurate cross from the right found the Brazilian unmarked at the far post. He shot wide of the target when he should at least have worked the keeper.

Four minutes later, Heidelberg again hit the front when Gasparis ghosted past two defender before beating Pooley from inside the box.

Heidelberg’s Rudy Saglam gets in a cross ahead of Tasmania’s Scott Wilson and Bobby Eaves

Laino denied White in the 65th minute with an excellent save after the Tasmanian striker had been put through by a perfect pass from Ladic.

In the 73rd minute, Laino could only parry substitute Billy Gasparinatos’s shot and Tasmania’s captain, Chris McKenna, planted the loose ball in the back of the net to make it 3-3.

Two minutes later, Laino again produced an outstanding save from McKenna at the far post after a fine attacking move by Tasmania involving Gasparinatos and substitute Sean Howe.

Gasparinatos had enlivened the Tasmanian attack since coming on and, in the 85th minute, he twice outfoxed the Heidelberg defence on the right of the box before shooting over the bar from a difficult angle.

Hockless shot over two minutes later as Heidelberg increased the tempo in the quest for a winner, but Tasmania’s Liam Scott wasted a chance a minute later when his long-range effort from wide on the left carried beyond the far post.

A minute from time, Groenewald came up with his winning header, but Tasmania had one last chance in the dying seconds as Ladic knocked the ball to Gasparinatos, who released McKenna, but the Devonport striker blazed wide.

A respectable score-line for the home team, indeed, but it did not tell the whole story of Heidelberg’s dominance.

_________________________________________________________

• Tasmania coach, Eamonn Kelly, said:

“I thought in the second half we played well and we played good football.

“In the first half, we were a little bit shaky.

“I think once we settled to the pace of the game, we came out in the second half and played our game of football.

“We were unlucky. We should have buried them, really.

“We had four or five good chances and, I mean, the score-line should have read about 6-3, but it didn’t.

“Goals win games and we were unfortunate.

“They can all hold their heads high. They put on a good performance and I think it shows where we’re at and where we need to work a bit harder.”

• Heidelberg coach, George Katsakis, said:

“Having not played for five weeks, I think we shifted the ball around quite impressively, to be honest.

“It just shows that, in terms of possession and being a little more creative, I think we had the upper hand.

“We made sixteen changes in all and I was quite impressed.”
_______________________________________________

STATISTICS

TASMANIA HEIDELBERG
14 Goal Attempts 19
7 Shots on Target 8
1 Corners 7
8 Fouls Committed 11
10 Off-Sides 8
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0

Tasmania:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Eaves 1 0
Ladic 4 1
White 4 3
Gasparinatos 2 1
McKenna 2 2
Scott 1 0

Heidelberg:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Groenewald 2 2
Gasparis 3 2
Hockless 2 1
Tsiorlas 5 3
Ouliaris 3 0
Jones 1 0
Vassiliadis 1 0
Stefanou 1 0
Paton 1 0

Tasmania Women v Heidelberg Women Match Report [KGV Park, Saturday, 18 October 2008]

By Walter Pless
__________________________________________________________

Tasmania 3 (Smith 37, Reardon 42, Prescott 63)
Heidelberg 2 (L Quayle 55, Camilleri 72)

HT: 2-0 Att: 500 Ref: T Humphries

Tasmania: Joiner-Stewart - Couch, Manuela, Tarbath - McCulloch, Minstrell, McLeod, Clifford, Prescott - Brazendale, Smith [Substitutes: Jackson, Hale, Griffiths-Lee, Nossiter, Reardon, Nunn]

Heidelberg: Vidic - M Tsolacos, Maza, Bakopoulos - S Tsolacos, Alatsas, B Quayle, Balta, Labour - Camilleri, Nicolaci [Substitutes: Panella, L Quayle]
____________________________________________________________

Heidelberg were missing six key players on this visit to KGV Park in Glenorchy to take on Tasmania.

Two were in Los Angeles, a couple were injured and another two were trialing with Melbourne Victory’s women’s side.

Sasa Jurkovic, Simon Natoli, Tom Humphries and Gerry Lampasona

Heidelberg had appeared in their third grand final in a row this year, but lost 1-0.

They would have been a formidable outfit if they had been at full strength. As it was, they had to ‘borrow’ two Tasmanian players to make up numbers - sisters Lucy and Brittany Quayle.

Heidelberg

Nevertheless, Tasmania deserved their victory for their tenacity, fighting spirit and considerable skill.

Chelsea Smith, who scored 62 goals in the northern Tasmanian league this season, was a livewire in attack and constantly tested the Heidelberg defence.

Jill Couch was reliable at the back, and the strength and skill of Melinda Minstrell in midfield was a real asset for the home side.

Tasmania

Kendall Brazendale was an able partner for Smith and her presence kept Heidelberg’s keeper, Angela Vidic, on her toes.

Laura Prescott was speedy down the left wing and she scored a fine goal to earn the home side victory.

Melanie Camilleri was splendid in attack for Heidelberg, particularly in the second half, while Heleena Alatsas directed operations in midfield with Lucy Balta, the latter also finding the time to get in several dangerous shots at goal.

Heidelberg’s Heleena Alatsas blocks Tasmania’s Naomi Clifford

Tasmania began strongly and Smith’s speed enabled her to get in two early shots from difficult angles that were well blocked by Vidic.

Camilleri went close in the 10th minute for Heidelberg, but Tess Joiner-Stewart in the Tasmanian goal was up to the challenge.

Kendall had a great chance in the 11th minute for Tasmania when she gained possession on the right, but her low drive from just outside the box flew wide of the far post.

Tasmania’s Melinda Minstrell heads a Heidelberg corner clear

Karla McCulloch had the ball in the net for Tasmania on the quarter-hour, but the assistant referee’s flag for off-side put an end to the home side’s celebrations.

Penny Bakopoulos sent Tasmanian hearts racing when she had a shot from long range in the 19th minute, but the ball cleared the crossbar.

Heidelberg should have taken the lead in the 33rd minute when Julia Nicolaci’s excellent right-wing cross found Lucy Balta at the far post, but Joiner-Stewart blocked her effort from close range. The ball ran loose, but Balta could only prod it wide of the goal.

Tasmania took the lead in the 37th minute when Smith, wide on the right, fired against the underside of the bar from 20 metres. The ball bounced down, over the line, and out again, where Brazendale headed it into the net just to make sure.

Three minutes before the interval, Smith’s shot was blocked by Vidic, but Natalie Reardon knocked it home to make it 2-0 at the break.

Natalie Reardon celebrates her goal and Tasmania’s second

Ten minutes after the resumption, Heidelberg were back in contention when guest player Lucy Quayle chipped the ball over Joiner-Stewart from the left to make it 2-1.

In the 63rd minute, Tasmania restored their two-goal buffer when Prescott, wide on the left, sent in a cross-cum-shot that sailed over Vidic and into the far corner of the net.

Heidelberg were far from finished, however, and Balta shot narrowly wide in the 66th minute as the visitors launched attack after attack.

Heidelberg’s Heleena Alatsas directs operations in midfield

In the 72nd minute, Camilleri showed her class with a neat chip over Joiner-Stewart to make it 3-2, but Tasmania hung on for a meritorious victory.

______________________________________________________________

• Tasmania’s coach. Jason Jones, said:

“An outstanding effort by a group of girls who were determined to make the most of the opportunity to play for Tasmania.

“They certainly held their own.

“They controlled a lot of the play and the result showed that, so it’s a fantastic result for a great group of girls.”

• Heidelberg coach, John Lioupas, said:

“It was a bit of hard slog for us, but credit to both teams.

“I thought we played better in the second half.

“We let ourselves go a bit in the first half for a ten- or fifteen-minute spell there and they scored those two goals.

“On the whole, I’m happy with the performance.”
___________________________________________________

STATISTICS

TASMANIA HEIDELBERG
11 Goal Attempts 8
8 Shots on Target 4
3 Corners 5
4 Fouls Committed 5
4 Off-Sides 1
0 Yellow Cards 1 (Bakopoulos 45)
0 Red Cards 0

Tasmania:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Smith 4 3
Brazendale 2 1
Jackson 1 0
Minstrell 2 2
Reardon 1 1
Prescott 1 1

Heidelberg:

PLAYER GOAL ATTEMPTS SHOTS ON TARGET
Camilleri 3 2
Bakopoulos 1 0
Balta 3 1
L Quayle 1 1

Tasmania versus Heidelberg (Men’s and Women’s Match Summary)

By Walter Pless

A last-minute goal by Josh Groenewald gave Heidelberg a 4-3 win over Tasmania in an entertaining match played before a crowd of 500 at KGV Park on a hot Saturday afternoon.

Graham Hockless, the winner of Victoria’s gold medal award for the best-and-fairest player, put Heidelberg in front in the 11th minute with a superb 30-metre drive.

Tasmanian squad

Tasmania equalised on the half-hour when Heidelberg defender Peter Roberts handled the ball.

Daniel White’s penalty was saved by Heidelberg’s excellent keeper, 17-year-old Chris Laino, but White smashed home the rebound.

Heidelberg squad

Marinos Gasparis restored Heidelberg’s lead with a chip over keeper Marshall Pooley in the 41st minute to give the visitors a 2-1 advantage at the interval, but a marvellous free-kick by Jonathon Ladic five minutes after the resumption made it 2-2.

The skilful Gasparis beat two defenders and slotted the ball past Pooley in the 57th minute to again put the Victorians in front, but Tasmanian captain Chris McKenna fired home the rebound to make it 3-3 after Laino could only parry substitute Billy Gasparinatos’s stinging shot in the 73rd minute.

In the 89th minute, Rudy Saglam played a corner back into midfield to Heidelberg captain Tony Ouliaris, whose chip into the box was headed past substitute keeper Nathan Pitchford by Groenewald for the winner.

Tasmanian women’s squad

In the curtain-raiser, Tasmania’s women’s representative side beat Heidelberg’s women’s team 3-2 after Tasmania led 2-0 at the break through goals by Chelsea Smith and Natalie Reardon.

Lucy Quayle, a Tasmanian guesting for Heidelberg, reduced the arrears in the 55th minute, but Laura Prescott made it 3-1 in the 63rd minute with a cross-cum-shot from long range on the left.

Heidelberg’s women’s squad

Melanie Camilleri pulled a goal back for Heidelberg in the 72nd minute, but Tasmania hung on for a creditable win against a side that has played in the Victorian grand final for three years in a row.

Tasmania v Heidelberg Preview

By Walter Pless

Heidelberg, who finished third in the Victorian top flight competition and then lost the preliminary final, will bring their strongest possible squad to play Tasmania at KGV Park on Saturday at 6pm.

Heidelberg coach, George Katsakis, is hoping that Graham Hockless, the winner of the Victorian best-and-fairest gold medal this season, will be available.

Hockless has been in Perth for trials with A-League club Perth Glory and was due to learn on Thursday night whether he has earned a contract.

If he has not, he will accompany Heidelberg to Tasmania.

Chris Laino, 17, will be in goal in the absence of regular keeper Peter Gavalos, who has had knee surgery, while Marinos Gasparos, who featured in the biggest transfer deal in Victoria this season ($5,500), will feature as an attacking midfielder.

Centre-back Daniel Jones and striker Josh Groenwald will be other players to watch.

“We were one game away from the grand final and we’ve got a squad that’s the best in the Victorian Premier League,” said Katsakis.

“We’ve got players who have represented the State and played in the national league and who have trialed at A-League level.

“We will have our best possible squad coming out.

“I don’t know much about Tasmania. James Sherman, and Mathew Sanders. Two good kids to be quite honest. Good players.

“We really haven’t done much training, other than last night [Tuesday], to be honest, for about five weeks now.

“We’ve just played low key. We had a very simple run last night. We just went through the motions, just to loosen up.

“We haven’t really done too much at all, to be quite honest.”

Heidelberg’s director of football, Jamie Paton, echoed Katsakis’s words when he said: “We haven’t played in quite a while, as you can probably gather, and obviously we haven’t been training.”

Tasmanian coach, Eamonn Kelly, has been forced to omit Hobart Zebras players Andrew Telega, Ben Crosswell, Ricky Self and Aaron Brazendale because they were unavailable for the second leg of the South versus North intrastate series.

Several of the best Northern players have also been omitted for the same reason because Football Federation Tasmania insisted that only players who appeared in both legs would be eligible for the State side.

“Everyone is fit and I can announce that Chris McKenna will captain the team,“ said Kelly.

“I haven’t added anyone to the squad because I’m not allowed to add anyone.

“I’ve got to work with what I’ve got.

“I’d love to add people. Of course I’d love to add people, but it’s just not possible at this point in time.

“The calibre of the players we’ve got in the 16-man squad is good.

“They’ve all worked very hard, they’re all up for the challenge, and they’ve given me 110 per cent commitment and I can’t ask for anything more than that.

“Ben Crosswell finished as the top scorer and won the Vic Tuting Medal, but according to the rules that were set down for us, he didn’t qualify.

“We’d love to have him. I couldn’t think of anything better than having Benny Crosswell in the team, but, unfortunately, we haven’t got him.

“We’ve got the next best thing. No, I can’t say the next best thing. We’ve got the equivalent player, being Chris McKenna, and I’m sure he’ll do a fine job for us.”

Kelly said he knew only a little about Heidelberg after watching videos of two of their games.

“We’ve watched a couple of videos of Heidelberg and we know for a fact they’ve got a very tall back-line,” said Kelly.

“We know for a fact that they don’t play a lot of long football. It’s nearly all played through midfield and they’re very tight in midfield.

“They’ve got a young nippy lad up front who is very, very quick, but, like I said, I can’t remember his name.

“I do know that one of the players from Heidelberg has just signed a contract, or last week signed a contract, with Perth Glory, so he won’t be down here.

“Don’t ask me what his name is because I don’t know.

“But, yes, we’ve been watching them play, and we’ve studied about three or four DVDs of them and I’ve got a fair idea of how they’ll play and line up if they bring the squad we’ve been watching.

“We haven’t settled on a starting eleven at the moment. We’re training with a squad of 16.

“We had a few injury queries with Timmy Claxton up north and Danny White down here, but they’ve both had fitness tests tonight [Wednesday] and Danny White’s come through with flying colours.

“I’ve heard from Tom McGinn that Claxton has come through with flying colours so we can have a full complement of sixteen.”

Kelly said he did not agree with the policy of using only players who had played in the two legs of the intrastate series.

“I don’t agree with it,” he said. “The decision was made by the coaching director, but most probably the decision did come from FFT to Richard [Evans], but Richard enforced it.

“To qualify for the State game, they had to play in both legs, so that obviously means players like Benny Crosswell, Aaron Brazendale, and the list goes on and on, and there’s also some players from up north that didn’t play both games, are not eligible and so you’re pretty well hamstrung.

“If you played in two legs, then that’s the squads you have to choose from.

“As a coach, I feel a little let down that we’re not able to put our best sixteen players on the park because of bureaucracy, I suppose, made at the highest level here in Hobart.

“I wouldn’t say we’re going in with one arm tied behind our back because the calibre of the players we’ve got in the sixteen are good calibre.”

Marshall Pooley of Northern Rangers will start in goal ahead of New Town Eagles’ Nathan Pitchford.

Kelly praised Pitchford for travelling down in mid-week regularly from Launceston to attend training.

Southern league champions South Hobart will have five players in the squad - Hugh Ludford, Liam Scott, Daniel White, Jonathon Ladic and Billy Gasparinatos.

The curtain-raiser at 4pm on Saturday is between the Tasmanian women’s team and Heidelberg’s women’s team, who lost 1-0 in the Victorian grand final.

Tasmania had their final hit-out last Saturday when they drew 1-1 with the Tasmanian Institute of Sport women’s team.

Chelsea Smith will be Tasmania’s main striker after a splendid season in the north, while Jill Couch may be used in defence alongside Melinda Minstrell, who has played in Japan and the USA.

Several of Heidelberg’s players have been trialing with a view to playing in the proposed women’s national league competition.

Incidentally, I was intrigued by the FFT advertisement in “The Mercury” for these two games, which stated ‘limited tickets ring 6273 3299′.  Now that I would like to see!

Vic Tuting Silver Medal and other award winners

By Walter Pless

Ben Crosswell is the 2008 Vic Tuting Medal winner as the best-and-fairest southern Premier League player.

The 24-year-old Tilford Zebras striker, who joined the club from Burnie United this season, polled 27 votes, six ahead of joint second-place getters Igor, of Glenorchy Knights, and three-time winner of the medal, Zebras’ Brett Pullen.

Ben Crosswell

South Hobart midfielder Jonathon Ladic came third with 13 votes.

Crosswell, a police officer by profession, had an outstanding season and finished as the league’s top scorer with 27 goals.

The odd thing is that he was not selected for the Tasmanian side to play Heidelberg United next weekend.

Zebras goalkeeper Frank Mainella and equal second-place getter Brett Pullen

“I’m very surprised to win the award,” said Crosswell after Friday night’s presentation dinner at Wrest Point Hotel Casino. “I thought Igor was going to win this year.

“I’m very happy to take it out this year.

“It seems as if it was one vote for every goal I scored.

“If I play next year, I’ll be playing for Zebras.

Hobart Lord Mayor Rob Valentine presented the medal to Ben Crosswell

“I’ve really enjoyed it there this year. They gave me a free role up front, which I’ve enjoyed and, hopefully, I’ll be able to play up front next year and continue where I left off this year.

“I thought if I polled well in the first half of the year I’d have a chance, but I didn’t expect to get the votes I did in the second half of the season.”

South Hobart’s Ken Morton won the coach-of-the-year award and Kim Barker took out the referee-of-the-year award for the eighth season in a row.

Kim Barker…referee of the year

Rodney Tattam, coach of Glenorchy Knights’ women’s side, won the Women’s Premier League coach-of-the-year award.

Hobart Olympic’s Jamie Walker and New Town Eagles’ Jeremy Marshall were the joint winners of the Premier League Reserves best-and-fairest player award with 12 votes.

Hobart Olympic’s Dipendra Kunwar won the Under-19 best-player award with 24 votes and he was also the league’s top scorer.

Jackson Marsh of Nelson Eastern Suburbs won the Division One player-of-the-year-award with 21 votes.

Nelson Eastern Suburbs’ Jackson Marsh

Hanna Manuela of South Hobart was named as the Women’s Premier League player-of-the-year, polling 22 votes.

Hanna Manuela…State representative and referee

Ken Morton…coach of the year

Vic Tuting Silver Medal Preview

By Walter Pless

Glenorchy Knights’ Brazilian midfielder, Igor, is the favourite to take out the 2008 Vic Tuting Silver Medal as the southern Premier League’s best-and-fairest player.

The medal count takes place on Friday evening, 10 October, at the Wrest Point Hotel Casino.

Igor - full name Igor Oliveira Sao Jose - joined Knights this season from Brazil and scored 13 league goals for the club.

Igor with his trophies from the recent Knights presentation evening

He also had a trial with Melbourne Knights during the latter stages of the season.

Hobart Zebras striker Ben Crosswell is Igor’s biggest threat as he caught the eye by scoring 27 goals to easily finish as the league’s leading marksman.

Crosswell has silky skills, but his goalscoring touch deserted him towards the end of the season.

Ben Crosswell scored 27 goals in the league this season

Zebras captain Brett Pullen, who has a hat-trick of medals to his name, should also poll well, as should Zebras central defender Andrew Telega.

Hobart Olympic will be represented by Chris Tsakiris, Danijel Djekanovic and goalkeeper Dmitri Nester, while Clarence’s Ben Parker, Paul Bremner and Dwayne Walsh are also in the running.

Tsakiris and Bremner may well be the dark horses in the count.

University’s three leading vote-getters are Alexis Bull, Aaron Hindmarsh and goalkeeper Ryo Matsuo, while Kingborough Lions United’s representatives are Charles White, Mark Iseli and Ross Hinkley.

Goalkeeper Ben Peter and midfielder Jacob Gordon are Igor’s team-mates from the Knights who are in the running, while league champion South Hobart will be represented by midfielders Jonathon Ladic, Bart Beecroft and David Abbott.

Beecroft and Abbott cannot be discounted despite probably taking votes off each other.

Alex Leszczynski, Chris Wass and Andrew Clark are New Town Eagles’ invitees, while goalkeeper Michael McKenna, defender Mohand Rahni and midfielder Aaron Marney will represent Metro.

Taroona’s candidates are Tom Sherman, Marcus Atkinson and Jack Elliot.

Tasmanian juniors perform well at national titles

By Walter Pless

Tasmania’s boys’ under-15 football team finished a creditable fifth at the national championships in Coffs Harbour, NSW, last week.

Tasmania’s Sam McIntyre scored with a blistering free-kick to give his side a 1-0 win over Victoria Metropolitan to seal fifth place.

In the earlier games of the week, Tasmania lost 7-2 to Western Australia but then recovered to score some impressive results in the tournament.

Tasmania beat Country NSW 3-2, with Dylan Postma, Sam McIntyre and Brayden Mann scoring the goals in the first half to lead 3-1 at the break and move into third spot in Group B.

Tasmania scored an unprecedented third win in a row when they downed the highly rated Northern NSW 2-1 through a brace by Andy Baron.

They then lost 3-0 to NSW Metropolitan, but still finished third in their group to earn the play off for fifth and sixth place against Victoria Metropolitan.

The Tasmanian under-14s finished in eighth place after going down 5-1 to Capital Football, the ACT representative side, in their play-off match.

Tasmania had begun the tournament well by overcoming Queensland 2-1 on the opening day.

They then drew 1-1 with Northern NSW, 1-1 with Country NSW and 1-1 with South Australia, Jordan Muller netting in the game against the South Australians, to finish fourth in the their group and earn a showdown with Capital Football.

Meanwhile, the Southern Tasmania under-13s left for Newcastle, NSW, on Sunday for a tournament also involving Tasmanian sides from the north and north-west and local Newcastle clubs, including a Newcastle representative side.

The tournament was organised by former Football Federation Tasmania CEO, David Smith, who is now the coaching director for Northern NSW.

The Southern Tasmanian squad of 16 players, coached by Rodney Bones and assisted by Nick Di Martino, began training in February this year after lengthy trials to identify players began last November.

The squad was whittled down from 80 players who began the selection process.

The team has been competing in a southern under-15 competition all season and also played in the Festival Cup and Launceston Cup junior competitions.

“The experiment of playing the these boys up in the under-15 competition shone through in these under-13 tournaments and the guys’ confidence grew when they were once again playing against their own age group,” said Bones.

“I believe the guys will hold their own in Newcastle and, if we apply ourselves in the right ways, we will play a very positive and free-flowing game of football.

“As long as we play football in the style we have shown these guys, then we will be more than competitive against opposition I am expecting to be tough.

“I have a very talented squad of 16 boys this year who work well as a unit and complement each other in every aspect of football.

“Everyone is looking forward to the challenge and I’m positive the boys will make themselves and Tassie football followers very proud whilst away.”

The squad is:  Jake Hartshorn, Nicholas Green, James Ince, Jarron Lulitanond, Ben Aitken, David Mcclung, Brendon Hay, Zac Bury, Greg Mcdonald, Gift Ochaya, Lucas Hill, Nicholas Mearns, Chris Mcdonald, Sam Fahey, Christian Di Martino, Mitchell Stalker, (Coach:  Rodney Bones;  Assistant Coach:  Nick Di Martino;  Sports Trainer:  Wayne Aitken;  Manager:  Brett Hey)

In other news, Igor Oliveira Sao Jose has been names as Glenorchy Knights’ best-and-fairest player and leading goalscorer, while goalkeeper Ben Peter was the players’ player-of-the-year.

In the reserves, Carlos Fuentes was the leading scorer, Marcus Burn the best and fairest, and Peter Frank the players’ player-of-the-year.

Brodie Green took out the Under-19 best-and-fairest award and the players’ player award, while Will Stalker was the most improved and Amadu Koroma the top scorer.

Anthony Grundy and Marina Brkic were awarded life membership.

Stacey Bennett was the Women’s Premier League best-and-fairest player, Brenda Nevin the players’ player and Lauren Griffiths-Lee the leading scorer.

In Women’s Division One, Steevie Coulson was the leading scorer, Jemma Dacy the best and fairest, Michelle Luck the players’ player of the year and Agnes Parr took out the encouragement award.

Spencer Gibbs was the top scorer in the men’s Division Three side, while Jarrod Cumming was the best-and-fairest player and Tony Dzelalija the player’s player of the year.