VFL 2019: Northern Blues skipper Tom Wilson buoyed by influx of ex-AFL talent
An influx of ex-AFL talent to Northern Blues in the past two seasons has given skipper Tom Wilson confidence the club is primed to end its seven-year VFL finals drought.
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An influx of ex-AFL talent to Northern Blues in the past two seasons has given skipper Tom Wilson confidence the club is primed to end its seven-year VFL finals drought.
The Blues last featured in finals in 2011, when coach Josh Fraser was playing for Gold Coast and Richmond premiership midfielder Kane Lambert was a key member of their side.
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Wilson, who has been Northern Blues captain since 2016, played his first and only VFL final that season against Bendigo Bombers.
He has featured in 108 games for the Blues since then and claimed his third club best and fairest award last year.
“We’ve added these AFL-experienced guys to our list, but the key thing for me is our blokes who were there last year and really building on the back of what we had,” Wilson said.
“We don’t have to spend as much time educating and upgrading on the game plan.
“I think that’s an advantage for us as well. That gives you a little bit more energy going into training.”
The Blues have added Kieran Collins (Western Bulldogs), Alex Johnson (Sydney) and Jonathan O’Rourke (Hawthorn) to their list for 2019, which already featured Jesse Palmer (Port Adelaide), Sam Fisher (Sydney) and Josh Hill (Western Bulldogs/West Coast).
“They’ve had success at the level and they know what it looks like,” Wilson said.
“To be able to lean on them, get ideas off them, bounce thoughts and opinions and get their feedback on what we are doing and how we are tracking as a club, has been really good so far.”
Wilson praised Fraser’s efforts to build a culture which had encouraged the club’s “core players” to recommit.
“He has worked really hard at building the culture and the reputation of the club, along with the playing group buying in to that ” Wilson said.
“It’s one thing to have it up in words but to be able to buy into it has been really important.”
Mason Blakey, Kane Keppel, Marcus Stavrou and Ethan Penrith headline an exciting young crop of players who have re-signed.
“Last year and the year before maybe we needed an extra couple of weeks to upskill and develop and to try and educate a bit more,” Wilson said.
“But the additions, with the experience we have retained and the coaching staff being consistent, it’s all bubbling away nicely.”
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