TAC Cup: Calder Cannons 2007 premiership heroes set to reunite more than 10 years on from grand final glory

HOURS before Geelong demolished Port Adelaide by a record grand final margin in 2007, a young wingman from East Keilor ran amok on the MCG.

Calder Cannons celebrate their victory at the MCG in the 2007 TAC Cup grand final.

HOURS before Geelong demolished Port Adelaide by a record grand final margin in 2007, a young wingman from East Keilor ran amok on the MCG.

Ash Arrowsmith put his name up in lights on the biggest stage with four goals as Calder Cannons stormed to a 50-point TAC Cup grand final victory against Murray Bushrangers.

The then 18-year-old would be drafted to the West Coast Eagles with pick No. 28 in that year’s rookie draft, joining six of his premiership teammates on AFL lists.

“It still comes up in conversation that I got to play on the MCG on grand final day,” Arrowsmith said.

“It’s something the current group of kids don’t get to experience anymore.

“It was a really good experience and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

Arrowsmith was named best on ground in the 14.20 (104) to 7.12 (54) victory, which marked the first of three flags in four years Calder would savour.

“I’d actually got touched up by the bloke (I played on) a couple of weeks earlier, so I had to turn the tide a little bit and play some good footy,” he said.

Captain Mitch Farmer holds the premiership cup aloft with Cannons coach David Flood.

The Cannons’ premiership side will gather on Saturday for a reunion to celebrate 10 years passing since coach David Flood and captain Mitch Farmer held the premiership cup aloft.
“I have got really fond memories of that time and there was no surprises that we had a lot of success in that era,” Flood said.

The team consisted of 11 players who would be drafted between 2007-2009, including 16-year-old Jake Melksham.

Melksham would be best afield two years later when Calder defeated Dandenong Stingrays by 14 points to win the 2009 grand final and was snapped up by Essendon with pick No. 10 in the national draft.

“He was outstanding,” Flood said.

“In fact, I thought he played better footy as a 16-year-old than a 17 or 18-year-old.

Ash Arrowsmith, now coach of EDFL club East Keilor, kicked four goals in the grand final win.

“His ability as a 16-year-old was super. There was probably wasn’t much difference between him as a 16 or 18-year-old and he has gone on.”

Jackson Trengove (Port Adelaide/Western Bulldogs) was named in the ruck to compete against Dawson Simpson, while Shaun McKernan (Adelaide/Essendon) was the Cannons’ spearhead in attack.

James Polkinghorne (Brisbane Lions/Essendon) started on the opposite wing to Arrowsmith, Darcy Daniher (Essendon) was deployed at centre half-forward and Jeremy Laidler (Geelong/Carlton/Sydney) provided rebound from defence.

Ash Arrowsmith celebrates Calder’s victory as the final siren sounds.

Laidler followed in the footsteps of Jude Bolton, Ryan O’Keefe, David Rodan and Richard Douglas by winning Calder’s best and fairest that season, piquing the Cats’ interest.

“He was a terrific player and it doesn’t surprise me that he (has done) really well,” Flood said.

“He had a really good finals series as well as a home-and-away series.”

Dean Putt (Richmond) and Aaron Kite (Adelaide) also found their way on to AFL lists in 2007.

Calder Cannons Thomas Mendico is pumped up after kicking a goal in the 2007 TAC Cup grand final.

“We had a very talented group,” said Arrowsmith, who is co-coach of East Keilor in the Essendon District league.

“As you can see, we had quite a few guys drafted out of that side and only a select few are still playing.

“AFL footy is not for everyone but when some of our boys got their opportunity they have definitely taken it.”

The Cannons looked anything but a premiership side when they were handed a 123-point hiding by Murray in Round 16 of the 2007 campaign and then lost to the Bushrangers in the qualifying final.

They responded with a 67-point semi-final thumping of Eastern Ranges and overcame a Northern Knights team which included top-two draft picks Matthew Kreuzer and Trent Cotchin in the preliminary final.

But their best was saved for the biggest stage and Calder was in celebration mode by the time Steve Johnson, Paul Chapman and Cameron Mooney combined for 13 goals in Geelong’s 119-point shellacking.

“They were great players and they have all gone on and 10 or 11 years on, they have forged out their own careers, whether that’s at AFL, VFL or suburban footy,” Flood said.

“It’ll be good to catch up with those guys.”

Calder Cannons player Dylan Joyce salutes the sky after kicking a goal.