THINK Hampden League’s top-five system is flawed? Sitting in clear ninth position on the TAC Cup ladder with one home-and-away round remaining, you would think the North Ballarat Rebels are about to reflect on their season. But instead the Rebels are preparing for finals as the 13-team competition is embracing a top 12 this season. Greater Western Sydney has withdrawn from the finals, ensuring that every team will make finals. Geelong Falcons assistant coach Paul Henriksen, of Terang, said the unusual finals system was to give AFL recruiters another chance to look at TAC Cup players, particularly those who had been tied up with state and school football commitments.

DARTMOOR teenager Jeremy Cameron’s career is on the rise. Jeremy, who has been in great form as a bottom-age player in the TAC Cup under 18 competition, has been named in the 2010 intake of the AIS-AFL Academy. It comes after he played with Vic Country in the national under 18 championships. Inclusion in the academy is seen as a significant step towards being drafted and an AFL career. AIS-AFL Academy high-performance coach Jason McCartney said Jeremy was one of 30 players to be chosen. His selection means he will be part of a European tour in April next year. McCartney said the tour would build on the players’ physical and personal development and help prepare them for life in the AFL. “They will attend the AIS elite training centre in Italy, followed by London where they will play a match and finally Turkey, where they will attend the ANZAC day service,” he said.

TWO young Simpson footballers have convincingly claimed top honours at the Colac and District league juniors best and fairest count. Midfielder Jeremy Spokes took out the under 17 best and fairest award, while the under 14½ best and fairest went to Simpson onballer Chester Gardner. The duo are both preparing for finals action, with the under 14½ side facing Alvie in the elimination final on Sunday. The under 17s have a week off after finishing minor premier.

ONE of Camperdown’s most popular clubmen, Clayton Horspole, lines up for his 200th reserves match tomorrow when the Magpies play South Warrnambool. Horspole, the club’s reserves coach, is renowned for his “kangaroo court” sessions where he takes it upon himself to reveal and punish offenders for misdemeanours in his unusual comedy routine. We are told his performances are so good and his reporting so sensational, that he missed his calling as a journo with a UK tabloid. Horspole, who started his career in 1999 after moving up from juniors, has never played a senior game.

WHILE Camperdown may be struggling on the field this season, the Magpies are doing well off it. The club, which unveiled its new social rooms earlier this season, made more than $35,000 from its annual goods and services auction last week, with the funds going to demolish part of the debt associated with the new facility. Club publicity officer Peter Conheady said the auction attracted bidders parting with more than $2000 each for a truckload of silage and a truckload of hay.

THERE may not be the same level of polarised support involved in Warrnambool football derbies as there used to be but modern-day contests can still ignite the passions. Former South Warrnambool player and coach John Burns was moved to enter the winning team’s rooms after last Saturday’s contest at Reid Oval to compliment several passages of play involving onballer Nick Thompson. Burns was impressed with two successful chases from Thompson to pressure Warrnambool ball carriers, a feature of the Roosters’ game. Burns made his name in the 1970s as a North Melbourne centreman, playing in its ‘75 premiership. There was also another high-profile South supporter at the game in former Carlton player Terry Board. Board sponsors young onballer Wil Pomorin, who was one of the Roosters’ stars.