Dolliver puts his faith in youth

DODGES Ferry coach Brent Dolliver is hopeful that an injection of youth can be the key to success for his side’s SFL finals hopes in 2017.

Riddled with a long-list of injuries to several key players, the Sharks will run out with a youthful line-up in today’s crunch match against New Norfolk.

“The loss of Kane Waller, along with our two vice-captains, Tim Cannon and Jonathon Bullock, definitely hurts,” Dolliver excuse.

“The most promising thing for us is we have around five 18-year-olds with seven or eight games of experience under their belt who have come into the team and been fantastic.”

Dodges Ferry will today host top-of-the-table New Norfolk in what the coach says is a crucial game for the fourthplaced Sharks ahead of a looming finals series.

“We’ll need a few things to go right for us before we start said. “But that’s no talking finals,” Dolliver said.

“Today’s match is a huge game for us, an extremely tough ask.

“They [New Norfolk] are a very tall side to match up on, and they use the ball really well so it will be a good test.”

The Sharks coach will be hoping his side can get back to the same winning formula that saw the team run out convincing victors for consecutive games in rounds 13 and 14.

“When we’re winning we’re doing everything right,” Dolliver said.

“We’re really hoping for four quarters of effort today.

“We don’t want to drop off, because if we do they [New Norfolk] can really hurt us.”

In another intriguing match-up today, sixth-placed Huonville will fight to keep its finals hopes alive against ladder-leader Lindisfarne.

In the remaining two games, Claremont and Hobart should run out winners against Brighton and Sorell respectively.

James Kitto is a UTAS journalism student.