Tara Murray
Gisborne’s local talent will again be on show in the Bendigo Football League this season.
The Bulldogs are hoping to build on a strong 2021 which saw them in the top two for most of the season.
Bulldogs coach Rob Waters said last week that things had looked good in the pre-season.
“We had an intra-club last weekend and our first practice match is against Melton this weekend and then we play Sunbury at Gisborne the following week.
“It’s been not too bad with numbers and we’ve had a really good pre-season. Everyone was sick of being stuck inside and keen to play which is fantastic.
“We’ve gained and lost some young kids, there’s always something else to do.”
Waters said they had been able to keep the core group together for this season, adding a few missing pieces.
He said for the most part had looked to bring locals either to the club or back to the club. He said those returning to the club, were coming back for the right reasons.
“We want to continue that local feel and give the locals an opportunity,” he said.
“Jaidyn Owen had one year at Bacchus Marsh to play with his brother and he’s back.
“Sam Graham was with Essendon’s VFL list and he’s back with us. He’s about to hit his prime and I think would likely be looked at VFL level again.
“Ethan Minns had been in Western Australia the last couple of years. He got caught in Melbourne and decided to stay, which is handy for us”
The other key signing for the Bulldogs is Dan Davie. The former Bendigo Pioneer, previously played at Kyneton.
Waters said Davie would add something different to their forward line.
“He’s a centre half forward-full forward, who will change into the ruck,” he said. “He’s a big bodied forward. Pat [McKenna] and Jack [Scanlon] are more lead up forwards.
“We’ve been very Pat McKenna focused at times, we need to find other avenues to goal.”
Waters said Davie would play a similar role to what Ben Eales did last season. He said having Davie would benefit Eales and his addition will help provide more flexibility.
“Ben came on leaps and bounds last year,” he said.
“He played his second senior game last year and his development was fast tracked.”
Waters said having played 43 players in the senior team last season they had got a good look at a lot of their list and a lot of the younger players.
He said this season they wanted to continue to build on what they had been doing.
“We finished fourth last year after sitting second for most of it,” he said. “We lost one match and then the season was over.
“We want to finish as high as we can. We want to work on our definances through the year as it’s a long way to finals.”
The Bulldogs will kick off their season against Sandhurst on April 9, before facing Macedon Ranges rival Kyneton on Good Friday.
