Will Bigger Muscles Make a Defference To The Doggies in 08

The Doggies started positively in 2007 winning 7 from 12 games, but the wheels fell off in the second half of the year and they ended up 13th on the Ladder. A very disappointing year for all involved. They finished the year loosing the last 7 games! They have lost 4 very experienced players in 2008 in Chris Grant, Luke Darcy, Brett Montgomery and Matthew Robbins can the Dogs pick themselves up off the canvas for the upcoming year? Let’s take a look.

As we have done with every other team let’s see who has come and gone.

ADDITIONS:

Exchange period – received: Tim Callan (Geelong), Ben Hudson (Adelaide)
Rookie elevation: Jarrod Harbrow
NAB AFL Draft: Jarrad Boumann (Dandenong Stingrays), Jarrad Grant (Dandenong Stingrays), Guy O’Keefe (Geelong Falcons), Sam Reid (Zillmere), Callan Ward (Western Jets), Easton Wood (Camperdown)
Pre Season Draft: Scott Welsh (Adelaide)

DELETIONS:

Retired: Luke Darcy, Chris Grant (veteran – outside list), Brett Montgomery, Matthew Robbins
Exchange period – traded: Jordan McMahon (Richmond), Sam Power (Kangaroos)
Delisted: Travis Baird, Cameron Faulkner, Damian McCormack, Tim Walsh, Marty Pask (rookie), Michael West (rookie)

Muscle Men?

There has been a lot of talk from out a the Whitten Oval on how much the Doggies have bulked up and put on some much needed kilos. Coach Rodney Eade practically labelled the playing list as “BIG HEADS” and believed they were being caught up in the hype surrounding them after their great start to the season. I am sure they have that squeezed out of them by know. The Doggies biggest task of all in 2008 will be to play 22 rounds of consistent football at a level that will propel them into Finals contention. Read more

What Everybody Ought to Know About The Saints in 08

The Saints, who finished ninth last year and well below the lofty expectations of many football observers, will be hoping to launch themselves up the AFL ladder in 2008.

Let’s take a look at the incoming and outgoing players for 2008.

ADDITIONS:

Exchange period – received: Sean Dempster (Sydney), Charlie Gardiner (Geelong), Steven King (Geelong), Adam Schneider
(Sydney)
Rookie elevation: Jarryn Geary, Clinton Jones
Scholarship elevation: Khan Haretuku (rookie)
NAB AFL Draft: Eljay Connors (Bendigo Pioneers), Fraser Gehrig (St Kilda), Ben McEvoy (Murray Bushrangers), Jack Steven (Geelong Falcons)

DELETIONS:

Retired: Matthew Clarke, Fraser Gehrig, Aaron Hamill, Andrew Thompson, Brett Voss
Delisted: Barry Brooks, Andrew McQualter, Phil Raymond, Justin Sweeney, Fergus Watts, James Wall (rookie)

New found ruck strength.

An area that the Saints will be looking to improve on which has been an area that has caused them great concern for the last few years will be in the Ruck department. But heading into the 2008 season the Saints big men look to be in good shape. Michael Gardner is fit and raring to go, and they have drafted Geelong Premiership ruck man Steven King, who a lot of people regard as a bit of a dud pick up but I for one think that they have made a great decision. Then throw Justin Koschitzke, Michael Rix and Jason Blake into the mix and suddenly they have a plethora of big men to choose from. The Saints onballers with be salivating at the prospect.

A stat that I found quite alarming was the fact that the Saints were ranked last in points scored per game. Although Fraser Gehrig was their leading goal kicker I am just not sure he is the answer and I can not believe they re drafted him. If he is to make a difference to the Saints he needs to be a more consistent goal scorer and not just kick a couple of bags of goals and end up winning the goal kicking. Maybe the Saints can rest him unless they are playing at the Telstra Dome. Read more