TATURA BULLDOGS
A talented crop of youth, mixed with a solid base of experience and topped off with an impressive summer of training and Tatura coach Paul Kirby is optimistic of the year ahead.
The pre-season sessions at Tatura Park have showcased that the Bulldogs are blessed with a good blend of young guns and old heads.
Kirby, about to embark on his third campaign at the Kennel, is excited by the efforts of the club’s emerging stars.
“We have had some good numbers at training and I’m really happy with how pre-season has been travelling,” Kirby said.
“I’m super excited for the year ahead because we have got some ripper young talent.
“Guys like Will Russell, Sean McAllister and Xavier Hutchinson are flying on the track and you add them in with the experience of Tom Sullivan, Linc Wellington, Chris Ryan and those type of boys and there’s a lot of excitement.
“I’ve really liked the way Jimmy (James) Bennett has gone about his pre-season, as well as both Curt Ryan and Tim Wilson.”
A quick glance at Tatura’s departures in the off-season highlights one glaring omission from last year’s roster.
Gun on-baller Nick Fothergill. The silky mover is off to the Ovens and Murray League, alongside former Tatura teammate Jordan O’Dwyer, to play at Yarrawonga.
Fothergill’s departure has left a sizeable hole at the club.
“Foz is a pretty hard player to replace,” Kirby said.
“He’s a superstar player and a terrific bloke as well, so it was tough to see him go.”
Despite the challenge that comes with replacing a player of Fothergill’s ilk, Tatura has done a mighty job in filling the gaps.
Former club captain and current VFL talent Tom Miller has nominated the Bulldogs as his home club.
When the class defender isn’t running around for Southport, expect to see him donning the red, white and blue again which will no doubt bring a smile to the Tatura faithful.
Ben Cosgriff has joined the Kennel and will link up with former teammates.
Cosgriff is a decorated key-back and has shifted from Northern Football League outfit Heidelberg, where he is a premiership player.
“Ben is a big fella who’s very fit and he’ll play down back. You’ll notice him when he’s out there,” Kirby said.
“We’ve also picked up Billy Cooper’s cousin Rhys Damon, who is very skilful and really quick. And Aubrey Coote is back after a few years off and he’ll bolster our ruck stocks.”
Kirby highlighted the one area his charges had been knuckling down on ahead of the 2022 season.
“One of the big things we probably want to try and tick off this season is our skill execution,” he said.
“Our errors with ball in hand really let us down (last year).
“We have been working hard on our ball movement and skills and hopefully we can see improvement in that this season.”
“I’m super excited for the year ahead because we have got some ripper young talent.
– PAUL KIRBY, COACH