billy_the_kid
Steve Kolyniuk
Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Posts: 870
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 Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 4:33 pm Post subject: Bulldogs aim for talls at draft |
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http://afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=69817
| Quote: | Bulldogs aim for talls at draft
Mon 17 November, 2008
THE WESTERN Bulldogs will be hoping a pair of key position prospects remains available late in the second round of the upcoming NAB AFL Draft, with young talls high on their wish list.
The Dogs are the last club to have any "live" selections in the November 29 draft, having already dedicated their first pick of 14 to father-son acquisition Ayce Cordy.
As a result, recruiting manager Scott Clayton and the club's new recruiting and football partnerships manager Simon Dalrymple have comprised a list of tall young guns that could still be around when their selections of 31 and 32 roll around.
"Scott is the one that will have the call, but I think our strategy will be to still get the best player," Dalrymple told westernbulldogs.com.au on Friday.
"We're looking for some height. It's difficult to know who will still be around at that stage, but I know Scott and his team have been working really hard over the last couple of weeks and I think they've got a fair idea of who could be available.
"There are certainly some key position boys and ruckmen, and some midfielders around, but I think if the quality key positions are available, we'll probably go for them."
Dalrymple said the Bulldogs still recognise key forwards as their area of deficiency, after missing out on players like Sydney Swan Barry Hall and West Coast's Ashley Hansen during trade week.
"A key forward has always been a bit of an issue; to trade one in you have to give up something and it's a big issue to develop from within, which is what we're trying to do," he said.
"We still need to stock up in that area for four and five years down the track. We want to get some quality in there.
"We're really happy with where [Jarrad] Grant and [Jarrad] Boumann are at, but they take awhile to become a power forward and get the size and strength required.
"They've had a few injuries and concerns, but their attitudes have been really good. We're confident that Jarrad Grant will be a very talented player at AFL level."
As far as the other end of the ground is concerned, Dalrymple said the Dogs wouldn't look past recruiting another tall backman to bolster the defence.
"It's not too bad down there. You've got [Andrejs] Everitt, Brian Lake, Tom Williams looking long term … Paul O'Shea is one that we want to develop in that area," he said.
"You might look to add another one down there, but I think the key forward is an area we're a bit deficient in."
He also denied the Bulldogs would look to recruit recycled players in this year's draft, after picking up five over the past two years.
"We're going for youth. With the make up of the list with quite a few at the top end, [Brad] Johnson, [Jason] Akermanis, [Nathan] Eagleton, that sort of age group, we need to keep pushing the youth in," he said.
"We had a big year this year with six being drafted and three rookies, so another few with Ayce Cordy and two others, and maybe a couple of rookies will be enough."
When the young Dogs hit the track on Friday at Whitten Oval, there was one unfamiliar face for onlookers. Williamstown best and fairest winner Liam Picken has been granted permission to train with the club in the hope of securing a rookie position.
"He's very quick and he played a lot of run-with roles and did a good job with that," Dalrymple said.
"He probably needs to work on his kicking, but he's certainly got a good attitude and his speed and attack on the ball is really good.
"The next month will be really important for him. We'll be able to simulate match conditions for him and test him in that environment and see how he goes." |
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