It is the firm belief of coach David Dickson that success comes when players show a willingness to work for their teammates, not themselves.
Dickson said there was no room for selfishness during the National AFL Under-18 Championships.
“It's not like cricket where you can go out and make a hundred or take eight wickets,” Dickson said.
“In football if you don't work for each other the overall team unit struggles. If players are not prepared at some stage during the carnival to sacrifice themselves for the team, then the team will struggle.”
Dickson used current St Kilda star Luke Ball to highlight the need for accountability. He said many spoke of the 30-plus possessions Ball racked up for Vic Metro in games last year, but pointed out that Ball also had an effective defensive aspect to his game that often went unnoticed.
“Luke had more ‘one percenters’ than any other player. He had both sides to his game, which is what you have to have.”
The rich tradition Vic Metro has established at the National Championships is another aspect Dickson has emphasised to the players. Every player who pulled on a Vic Metro Guernsey, he said, did so with pride and a great sense of responsibility.
“These young kids have an enormous opportunity. I'm confident they will do well.”
WHAT THE COACH SAYS
“We have a very young team, with nine 17-year-olds. Our game is going to built around moving the ball, keeping it alive and working hard for each other by doing the team things.”
PLAYER WATCH - RICKY DYSON
“What sticks in my mind about Ricky is how positively he reacted after he was initially cut from the squad last year. He went back to his club, worked really hard and got a second chance, capping it off by kicking two goals against Vic Country in the last game to help us win the Championships.”
No. First Name SURNAME D.O.B. Height Weight TAC Club/Local Club
1 Brayden Shaw 16/09/85 180 84 Northern/Greensborough
2 Linden Fredericks 28/05/85 177 75 Dandenong/Noble Park
3 Andrew Ericksen 17/07/85 203 90 Sandringham/Scotch College
4 Luke Peel 26/06/86 187 84 Sandringham/Brighton Grammar
5 Alister Neville 17/08/85 185 78 Oakleigh/Trinity Grammar
6 Luke Herrington 04/01/86 177 74 Dandenong/Crib Point
7 Chris Knights 25/09/86 183 71 Eastern/Vermont
8 Ben Clifton 05/04/85 191 84 Calder/Greenvale
9 Fergus Watts 21/09/85 193 86 Sandringham/Wesley College
10 Chris Stewart 12/02/86 193 80 Northern/Nth Heidelberg
11 Dale May 28/08/86 178 70 Calder/Strathmore
12 Michael Ramsay 15/09/85 173 66 Oakleigh/Waverley Blues
13 Josh Moore 07/09/85 190 77 Eastern/Scoresby
14 Eddie Betts 26/11/86 170 62 Calder/Templestowe
15 Ricky Dyson 28/08/85 181 75 Northern/Epping
16 Darren Rochford 31/01/85 186 85 Sandringham/Mordialloc / Braeside
17 Daniel McConnell 21/06/86 190 83 Eastern/Vermont
18 Brock McLean 11/03/86 182 86 Calder/Aberfeldie
19 Julian Rowe 25/05/85 186 72 Oakleigh/Old Carey
20 Brent Stanton 01/05/86 180 76 Northern/Banyule
21 Murray Boyd 02/06/85 195 91 Western/Spotswood
22 Robert Douglas 22/02/85 184 87 Calder/Kilmore
23 Sam Rouette 16/07/85 181 75 Dandenong/Bonbeach
24 Philip Georgios 11/08/85 181 74 Dandenong/Pearcedale
25 Toby Pinwill 17/02/85 187 83 Oakleigh/Mt Waverley
26 Ron Davis 19/01/86 181 84 Calder/Alphington
27 Marc Holt 24/07/85 187 90 Dandenong/Cranbourne
28 Chris Goulett 06/09/85 177 77 Calder/St Bernards
29 Adam Bentick 13/06/85 184 79 Calder/St Bernards
30 Patrick Cadd 13/09/85 173 66 Dandenong/Seaford
