tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11302960260695501252024-03-05T13:44:18.509+08:00footydreamingfor the footy nut in all of us...Jona Turlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07953733675224085886noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1130296026069550125.post-11216605121402139422011-01-31T22:16:00.011+08:002011-02-02T16:36:12.687+08:00Demons land Dockers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLWAL2drFtZ7qHlh8b3nXh6FN9568Ab8BISuvJhd7O_LNVCLGjO59R0cz1PpeI2gB7xbp3aXRDtx6wY0LBzNoYBRu2p-UU8QaDLX8XCyj0ny9xNxUYEseLSJRhehQucFvAJOKQYp2pF6w/s1600/JaydenPitt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLWAL2drFtZ7qHlh8b3nXh6FN9568Ab8BISuvJhd7O_LNVCLGjO59R0cz1PpeI2gB7xbp3aXRDtx6wY0LBzNoYBRu2p-UU8QaDLX8XCyj0ny9xNxUYEseLSJRhehQucFvAJOKQYp2pF6w/s1600/JaydenPitt.jpg" /></a></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Jayden Pitt</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Fremantle Dockers have provided rich pickings for Perth Demons football club, who have secured three new AFL draftees for the upcoming WAFL season.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">The 2011 AFL/WAFL club allocation process took place on Friday, with Perth picking Nick Lower with pick number one overall, Jayden Pitt at pick four, and Gavin Roberts with pick nine.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">New Perth senior coach Damien McMahon said he was thrilled to land the three Dockers, who he believed would help the club improve on 2010's disappointing last-placed finish.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We've been running the rule over the new recruits at the Dockers and the Eagles during pre-season training to assess which players would best suit the needs of our club,” he said.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">McMahon said Nick Lower, who played for Norwood last year in the SANFL and was runner-up in the Magarey Medal, fitted the bill perfectly as a strong-bodied, mature-age midfielder.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Being a rookie-listed player at Freo, we'd like to think we'll get some quality football out of Nick, and he's just what we need to help lead the big group of young midfielders between the ages of 18 and 22 we have in our squad,” he said.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">McMahon said his club had considered its options for pick four in the allocation process, with West Coast's young ruckman/forward Scott Lycett and Dockers' mature-age backman Peter Faulks on the radar.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“In the end we didn't go for Lycett because the Eagles were adamant they only wanted him used as a key forward this season,” he said.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We could have used a ruckman, but we have a number of key forward options, and we didn't want to sacrifice the development of the younger guys in our squad like Fremantle squad member Joel Houghton, and our young centre-half-forward Haydn Busher.”</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">While the Perth football brains trust, consisting of McMahon and football operations manager Darren Solomon, were keen on Peter Faulks, he was snapped up by Peel Thunder with pick three.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Faulks would have been a good fit because he is another mature-age recruit who could have bolstered the experience of our backline,” McMahon said.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“But in the wash-up I am rapt to get Jayden Pitt – he is a first-round draft pick and an exciting prospect.”</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">McMahon said 2010 Geelong Falcons coach and current Geelong Cats development coach Paul Hood was a massive wrap for Pitt, rating him as the best kick in the TAC Cup last year, on both sides of his body.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Jayden is very much an outside player at the moment, but as his body gets bigger and develops he will improve his inside game as well.”</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pitt will likely play most, if not all, the season with Perth in the WAFL, as he builds up his light 189cm, 70kg frame, before he can mix it regularly with the big boys in the AFL.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, it wouldn't be too much of a surprise if Mark Harvey throws him in at the deep end at some point during the season, given the Dockers' mentor's propensity to challenge his new recruits in their debut year.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">With the final pick in the WAFL player allocation, Perth secured another Norwood product, in 19-year-old midfielder Gavin Roberts.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">McMahon said: “Gavin comes very highly rated, and if he hadn't had so many problems with injuries in recent seasons he would probably have ended up as a top pick in the national draft instead of a rookie.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I see him as a project player for Freo, and as long as he gets his body right he'll be valuable addition to our squad because at 188cm he's a good size, and he can play in a number of positions through the midfield and across half-forward and half-back.”</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">McMahon predicted new Dockers' squad member and reigning Perth best-and-fairest winner Tendai Mzungu would prove an instant hit at AFL level, and is on course to start in the best 22 in round one.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Tendai is probably the fittest guy at Fremantle, and I think it's highly likely that he'll play a lot more games for the Dockers than he will for us here at the Demons.”</span><br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Football operations manager Darren Solomon said Perth were very excited to have three quality AFL players on board to help with what he felt was an emerging list.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We have added a number of experienced players including ex-Port Adelaide forward Damon White, 2010 Hawthorn rookie midfielder Jarrod Kaylor-Thompson, key defender Aaron Zucconi, high running half-forward Seamus Young, former East Perth half-back Frank Agostino and son-of-a-gun and ex-Essenden boy Dean Dick,” he said.</span></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"></div><div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“The addition of these players should make us a much</span><span style="font-size: large;"> more competitive outfit in season 2011.”</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>Jona Turlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07953733675224085886noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1130296026069550125.post-16375569326372613092010-12-12T06:20:00.004+08:002010-12-19T15:41:47.075+08:00Dockers snap up SA talent in rookie draft<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMZCqzjd6jTI8pgsdnmq6xHMVPDtHunrRjnJ3lYP5LfT-iJI2fthA28uHsCHz4mJ67huHtRK4thYtp_HcWgnZJQs6dszkJtYcObnLhO5oPrwbjP9g0EbSOx8XEM6q08A4aju8htL26EOB/s1600/gavin-roberts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMZCqzjd6jTI8pgsdnmq6xHMVPDtHunrRjnJ3lYP5LfT-iJI2fthA28uHsCHz4mJ67huHtRK4thYtp_HcWgnZJQs6dszkJtYcObnLhO5oPrwbjP9g0EbSOx8XEM6q08A4aju8htL26EOB/s320/gavin-roberts.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gavin Roberts</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsdhfMiRwY-P-LYXk3AJ8rtOZDRTfkpgualS239Lbe86mSgL7EqqmNc1gSi5pInX3Evey2LN-Mh6pLhIFgyIP3cxWnaTfn3v6lUcMmTMlLYA4XIqFBzfjthoweOjrT8Jbu1S2n0g2XBJ2/s1600/Nick-Lower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYsdhfMiRwY-P-LYXk3AJ8rtOZDRTfkpgualS239Lbe86mSgL7EqqmNc1gSi5pInX3Evey2LN-Mh6pLhIFgyIP3cxWnaTfn3v6lUcMmTMlLYA4XIqFBzfjthoweOjrT8Jbu1S2n0g2XBJ2/s1600/Nick-Lower.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Lower</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">Last year the Fremantle Dockers raided the VFL for mature age rookie coups in Michael Barlow and Alex Silvagni – this year the club has targeted the SANFL to top up talent on its rookie list.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">South Australian club Norwood produced both the Dockers' first two picks in the rookie draft - utility Gavin Roberts (19), with its first selection, pick 20 overall, then former Port Adelaide on-baller Nick Lower (23) with pick 37.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">After picking up Jack Anthony with pick six in the pre-season draft, these were the club's last two spots left to fill after the Dockers guaranteed Ben Bucovaz and Tim Ruffles would be retained as rookies, duly picking them up with picks 53 and 68 respectively.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fremantle general manager of player management Brad Lloyd said he was 'rapt' to get Roberts in to the club.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“We're pretty excited about bringing him in – he's got really good skills, he's an elite runner with his speed, and he's 188cm – so he's a good size,” Lloyd said.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Norwood football operations manager Mark Ross said Roberts' career to date had been badly hampered by injury, but he was “very gifted, skilful, a beautiful kick and a smooth mover”.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“He's had a lot of back-related hamstring problems, and in the SANFL we just haven't had the time or resources to get his body right,” Ross said.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ross felt given the treatment a professional AFL club could offer him, Roberts had the talent to shine as a forward, on the wing or across half back.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I anticipate he'll be eased into the system as a medium to longer term player at Fremantle.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fremantle now employ six development coaches full-time, including former AIS/AFL academy coach Jason McCartney, so Roberts will be in good hands.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">While Gavin Roberts may be one for the future, Lloyd said Nick Lower was a mature-bodied player capable of making an immediate impact in season 2011.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Nick was on Port Adelaide's list for a couple of years, he's had a really strong year at Norwood in the SANFL and just deserves another opportunity,” he said.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lloyd said Lower would complement the club's younger rookies and added depth to the club's midfield and half-back line.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mark Ross said Lower had enjoyed an outstanding year at Norwood – winning both the club's fairest and best and the Woods' Medal for most outstanding club member, as well as finishing runner-up in the Magarey Medal for the fairest and best player in the SANFL.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">“He was a bit unlucky to be de-listed by Port in my opinion – he's very tough over the footy, very strong in the air for his size,” he said.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ross said while Lower had flourished as a genuine on-baller, he could match up on taller or smaller opponents and so could play forward or back too.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fremantle will hope Bucovaz and Ruffles, both formerly on the senior list, will be able to overcome their injury woes of past seasons and push for opportunities as rookie-listed players in 2011.</span></div>Jona Turlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07953733675224085886noreply@blogger.com1