RESERVES SIDE

From the Border Mail [url]http://www.bordermail.com.au/newsflow/pageitem?page_id=778110[/url] ============================= Thu, Aug 12, 2004 Tossol slams VFL clubs plan to poach Bushies Wangaratta Rovers have six Bushrangers players, Michael Davidson, Nigel Robinson, Alipate Carlile, Jack Hill, Matt Graham and Daniel Lewis, in the under-18 TAC Cup. “All would be an acquisition to the club next year and we would hope they would consider playing for us after their Murray Bushranger commitments have finished if they dont get drafted or rookied,” Tossol said. “We expect the Murray Bushrangers to support the clubs which support them. “It all appears a strategy that would require all players to have first played at VFL-TAC Cup level before they are drafted. “This argument is just a slap in the face to country clubs and country people. “For whatever reason, some kids would prefer to stay at home so why should they be disadvantaged? “We support our young players who are chosen for the Murray Bushrangers and we hope like hell they get drafted because we get a kick out of one of our own making it. “It irritates me like hell when I am told I dont have the best interests of these kids at heart when I dont support a player going to a VFL club. “I have been around long enough to know what goes on for every success story there are 500 who dont make it.” Throughout his O and M coaching career at Corowa-Rutherglen and Wangaratta Rovers, Tossol has regularly played Bushrangers players when they are available, including last Saturday when Davidson, Robinson and Hill lined up for the Hawks. “When I was at Corowa-Rutherglen we had Scotty Easdown who played for North Ballarat, but at least they allowed him to come home and play,” Tossol said. “Today I see a bloke like Lachlan Longmire. “His chances of playing a senior game at Port Melbourne appear unlikely, but he could make the difference between Corowa-Rutherglen being a serious contender or not. “At Rovers we have Gavin Miller who has played a few senior games at North Ballarat, but he has been lost to Rovers, probably forever. “I have three girls, so it wont affect me, but if I was a parent, Id only let my kid go if they were drafted or rookied. “For every David Teague, a VFL success story, who I also coached at Corowa-Rutherglen, there is also a Karl Norman or Brett Kirk. “The concept of the VFL has been tried in the Goulburn-Ovens area and for whatever reason the Murray Kangaroos pulled the pin. “I dont support the Bendigo Bombers concept of attempting to lure players for their seconds, but dont ask me why. “Just ask the players who were involved originally at a local level, we dont get to hear about them.”