Former Fremantle forward Adam Campbell joins St Bernard’s for 2015 VAFA season and looks set to be followed by ex-Richmond and Essendon ruckman Tristan Cartledge

TWO former AFL forwards will patrol St Bernard’s forward 50 this season in a frightening prospect for opposition defenders.

Fremantle Dockers v Collingwood Magpies at Subiaco Oval , Perth . Adam Campbell takes a mark in the forward line resulting in a goal .

TWO former AFL forwards will patrol St Bernard’s forward 50 this season in a frightening proposition for opposition defenders.

The Snowdogs have secured former Fremantle forward Adam Campbell for 2015, who will lead a potent attacking arsenal alongside Chad Jones.

St Bernard’s coach Anthony Rock said Campbell had been the Victorian Amateur Football Association club’s headline recruit over the off-season.

“I think they’d be pretty handy,” Rock said of the Campbell-Jones combination.

“As long as you can win it through the midfield and transition the ball with the right decision-making and execution, we know we’ve got a really strong forward combination.

“We’ve got a lot of talls coming up through the under-19s as well, so it’s going to be pretty hot competition for spots.”

Jones finished with 48 goals despite being limited to 14 games last year because of his coaching role with Footscray VFL.

Rock said St Bernard’s was not concerned by a persistent ankle issue which has limited the key forward’s impact in recent years.

“When he finished with the AFL system he went to study at Sydney University and played in the NEAFL,” he said.

“He’s back in town, so I’m looking forward to watching him.”

The Snowdogs are also in the process of securing Tristan Cartledge from North Ballarat City, with a clearance pending for the ex-Essendon and Richmond ruckman.

Rock said several members of the club’s premiership-winning under-19 team were likely to be given an early crack at senior football this year.

“We should hopefully get some natural improvement and development from guys we’ve already got on our list,” he said.

He described 2014 as a “watershed” year for the club, with its focus for the coming campaign to build on a preliminary final appearance in Premier Division.

“We made some really good inroads last year, but obviously fell short by kicking 5.22 in a prelim final,” he said.

“You can’t get into grand finals kicking that sort of tally.”
St Bernard’s kicks off its 2015 campaign with an away fixture against Old Trinity on Saturday.

The club’s first home match is Saturday, April 25 against Beaumaris.