Spirited Intra Club Game at Whitten Oval
Just a quick one to keep you all updated on some intra club games that have been played over the last couple of days. The Hawks headed down to Aurora Stadium in Launceston. There were certainly a couple of interesting match ups during the game with tagger Brad Sewell giving new skipper Sam Mitchell hell and also Grant Birchill lining up on veteran Shane Crawford. But the biggest task of the day was given to Hugh Sandilands who was given the imposing task of nullifying gun forward Lance Franklin. Now from all reports he did OK keeping Franklin quiet early before he broke loose late to finish with three goals. But the standout was Tim Boyle, he kicked 5 goals all in the first half. Maybe the Hawks have been reading how their forward line is the least effective in the AFL. The boys over at DT Talk were at the game and have a great review of the game.
Western Bulldogs
Over at the Whitten Oval the Bulldogs were put through their paces in the pouring rain. Now intra club matches tend to be a glorified training session but there was a bit of intensity from a few of the Doggies with Brad Johnson and Nathan Eagleton involved in a wrestling match behind the play at one stage. New recruit Ben Hudson played the first half in the ruck and starred, while Ryan Griffen and Daniel Cross look set for big years as they return from injury.
The standout and clearly best on ground was Jason Akermanis, he played both up forward and in the middle of the ground. Other notable mentions went to Guy O’Keefe who impressed with his ability to win the ball, Jarrad Grant and Andrejs Everitt had an entertaining battle, with Grant narrowly taking the points for his intensity and presence around the contests.
As I mentioned in a previous post I am going to head out and have a look at the Bombers intra club game on the weekend and will report back with all the news.
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
Western Bulldogs add 2 to 2008 Leadership Group
In what is a great footballing story for any youngster that has not made the TAC Cup or other under age state league team and is battling away to get noticed by the AFL talent scouts, Matthew Boyd has been named in the 7 man leadership group at the Western Bulldogs. He and Dale Morris have been added to the existing 5 members from 2007 Brad Johnson, Scott West, Robert Murphy, Daniel Cross and Daniel Giansiracusa
Matthew Boyd is a great story, being drafted from Frankston where I remember playing with him and he was just a reserves player at the time and was struggling to get a game in the seniors under coach Robert Mace. Everyone at Frankston and Matthew himself were surprised at the drafting. He was first on the Rookie List and now finds himself as an integral part of the Doggies midfield. Boyd is a hard worker and one of those old fashioned footballers and not a natural athlete as we see so often being drafted these days.
Big things are expected from the Doggies is 2008 and all things are pointing to them playing a part in the 2008 finals series.
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Why Akermanis won’t coach an AFL Football Team
I wrote a post the other week about why I thought Nathan Buckley would most certainly coach an AFL Football team and how he just commands respect when ever he speaks etc. I just don’t think Jason Akermanis has that.
No Buckley or Voss
Yes Jason Akermanis will have had a decorated career winning 3 Premierships at Brisbane and a Brownlow Medal when he finishes playing, but I just don’t see the leadership and directional influence on the ground from him that a guy like Buckley or a Michael Voss for that matter display, not that that one factor makes a good coach but you are going to lead a group of men into battle week in week out and I think that is a quality that a coach should have.
On the other side he is a very self confident man and confident in his own abilities and would have no doubt learnt a lot from Lethal Leigh Matthews both positive and negative, and Rodney Eade, two very different but good coaches in their own right. But the question I have is could Akermanis be taken seriously?
Read more
Is this kid the new Jason Akermanis ?
What a way to enter the AFL scene that speak you mind from day 1. That is exactly what Western Bulldogs draftee James Mulligan has done. From his huge experience in the AFL the kid has come out and said the North Melbourne Football Club were “DUMB to turn their back on south-east Queensland.” and “There is definitely enough support here. The Kangaroos were dumb for not making the move.” Big statements from a 1st year draftee and I am sure the Bulldogs are pleased with him already talking about the possibility of returning to the coast when the 17th team is up and running.
Rodney Eade would have definitely pulled him aside and given him some quiet advice one would think. Probably along the lines of stick to the clichés and leave that sort of stuff to Aka.
I am sure he can expect a grilling from players for this one.
