Central District hoping to improve for 2019 SANFL season on back of new recruits, tweaks to game plan
Central District missed the finals last season for just the second time since Roy Laird took over as coach ahead of the 2003 campaign. Now the Bulldogs are primed to bounce back, buoyed by a swag of new recruits and tweaks to the club’s game plan.
- Ex-Crow Menzel returns to the kennel
- Every SANFL team’s recruiting graded
- Menzel best on ground in Gullies’ first flag
Season previews: Glenelg | South | Sturt | Eagles | Norwood | North
Central District coach Roy Laird spent September watching finals, rather than coaching in any, as well as planning for 2019.
That is rare for the seven-time premiership mentor, whose side has missed the major round just one other time – in 2014 – since he took on the role for the 2003 campaign.
Last year the Bulldogs finished eighth – four victories outside the top five with a 7-11 record – and never won more than two consecutive matches.
While preparing for his 17th season at the helm, Laird identified key areas that needed addressing.
“We weren’t hard enough as a group and, unfortunately, around the ball, we probably lacked the depth to help someone like Trav Schiller and Justin Hoskin,” Laird said.
“We kept our eye on the finals.
“We were able to look at different methods and study them quite a bit … but you’ve got to adapt things to suit your group.
“We think we’ve done that.”
Laird believed his team would be much better around the ball and less reliant on last season’s best-and-fairest Travis Schiller and utility Hoskin after adding a string of recruits.
He said Troy Menzel, returning after five years in the AFL with Carlton and Adelaide and a one-season stint at Tea Tree Gully last season, Darcy Pisani (Norwood) and Jydon Neagle (Wodonga) would play through the middle, while emerging midfielders Brendan Dew, Jordan Furnell and Kyle Presbury would be expected to step up on ball.
“We think we can get an awful lot better there,” Laird said.
Neagle’s brothers Matthew and Jaxson – the sons of former Essendon star Merv Neagle – have also arrived at the club from Wodonga.
Big men Jonathan Marsh (Sydney University) and Tim Auckland (Crows SANFL/Launceston) have been recruited after Darcy Fort’s drafting to Geelong and they will vie for the No. 1 ruck role with long-time Bulldog Matthew Claughton, who has overcome a cancer battle.
“It’s a fresh group in the sense there’s a number of new players,” Laird said.
“Those new players have brought in a sense of excitement and, to this point, everything’s gone really well.”
Fitness and game plan are two other areas Laird has tweaked.
Pre-season sessions centred around shorter, game-like training at higher intensity.
Finding ways to cut through opponents’ defensive schemes is another focus.
“We’re delighted with the work ethic of the players – they’ve really bought into what we’re trying to set up,” Laird said.
“There’s been quite a bit of change and it seems to be well received by the players.”
GUN RECRUIT
Troy Menzel will add class and AFL experience after stints at Carlton and Adelaide, before spending last year in the Adelaide Footy League with Tea Tree Gully.
Menzel had a huge influence with the Gullies, helping the club win its first division one flag and claiming the best-on-ground medal in the grand final.
At 24, he has plenty of footy ahead of him and will spend time in attack as well as through the midfield.
ONE TO WATCH
He may not be well known to many outside the club but Cooper Dahms is considered a tackling machine and lively half-forward.
Dahms is coming off a knee reconstruction and is expected to return to the field in May.
The 19-year-old played six league matches and kicked two goals last season before his injury.
RISING STAR
Jot down the name Leek Alleer. Central District coach Roy Laird believes the youngster, who is coming off 16 games in the club’s under-18s last year, can break into the league team in 2019.
Alleer is very athletic and will push for a spot on the wing or half-forward.
BIG OFF-SEASON
Nick Gillard has impressed Laird over pre-season and will be expected to step up after 13 league and three reserves games last year.
2018 SEASON RECALL
Eighth
Best & fairest
1 Travis Schiller
2 Justin Hoskin
3 Jarrod Schiller
Leading goalkicker
John Butcher 31