2nds Footscray Off-Season- VFL Season Thread

[VitalDread]

Main thread for VFL Stuff, including off season topics and match day stuff.
keeps it all in one easy access place for people looking for scores or stats etc.

 

[VitalDread]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/...e-goodes-in-2015/story-fngnvog3-1227123542170

RETAINING Brett Goodes is among the top priorities for Footscray coach Chris Maple as the club turns its attention towards 2015 after a premiership-winning season.

The VFL players will return to Whitten Oval on Wednesday, but delisted AFL trio Goodes, Alex Greenwood and Daniel Pearce have been training at the club in a bid to earn a lifeline.

Pearce is expected to earn a spot on the club’s AFL rookie list with the draft to be held next month, while Goodes and Greenwood played a vital role in Footscray’s premiership charge.

Goodes won the Norm Goss Medal for best-afield in the grand final win over Box Hill, returning 30 touches and 10 tackles in a virtuoso display.

The 30-year-old made 15 appearances for the Western Bulldogs after being snapped up as a rookie in 2013.

“We’ll definitely be trying to keep them around the place because they’re obviously premiership players with the VFL side and they’re really quality citizens,” Maple said.

The Bulldogs are focused on youth, the club opting to bypass VFL players from other clubs.

TAC Cup and suburban players will be able to stake their claims for a spot on Footscray’s list over the coming months.

“We probably won’t make any list decisions until well into February,” Maple said.

“We’ve had a busy off-season with everything that’s happened.

“In reflection, we were really proud of what we achieved in our first year. To start a team up from scratch, having to recruit all the staff and all the top up players and all the VFL players — it was a very good effort.

“They’re all club players at the moment because everyone is sitting and waiting for the draft and the rookie draft.

“There is a bit of interest in some of our players, so we might lose another one.”

Tom Gleeson was delisted and has joined Coburg, while Will Sullivan (overseas) is also likely to depart.

Hayden Walters and this season’s co-captain Lukas Markovic appear set to cross to local clubs.

After hosting just five games at Whitten Oval this season, the Dogs will host nine in 2015.

They enjoyed terrific support this year with a bumper crowd of 7108 witnessing their qualifying final victory over Williamstown.

“We were so well supported by our supporters and were rapt with the turnout when we played, particularly at our home games but everywhere we went because we were the Traveling Wilburys only playing five home games. It’s a great result for us,” Maple said.

“The guys have got some funding to upgrade, even further, Whitten Oval. Things like new lights, fencing, a big scoreboard, redoing the changerooms so other games can be played at the ground, and new coaches’ boxes.”

Maple said he was looking forward to tracking the development of David Iaccarino, Michael Fogarty, Todd Finco, Nick Jamieson and James and William Hayes next season.

“Jordan Keras did an ACL at the start of last season, so we didn’t get a chance to look at him at all,” Maple said.

“Jordan Clarke hurt his knee playing for (Old) Scotch and we didn’t have a look at him.

“We’ll continue on the development path with those other young guys. Hopefully we can top up with another one or two guys, who we can develop into really good players.”

 

[VitalDread]

THE Footscray Bulldogs will play all its home games out of Whitten Oval next year.

A $1.5 million redevelopment will allow the club to host more matches out of its spiritual home from five this season to at least nine in 2015.

The upgrade will bring the oval’s match day facilities up to VFL standard including new change rooms, coaches boxes and ground lighting improvements.

The State Government has pitched in $500,000, Maribyrnong Council $500,000, the AFL $250,000 and the club $250,000.

Western Bulldogs chief executive Simon Garlick said the club had been thrilled with the numbers that have flocked to the ground to watch its five VFL matches and a qualifying final.

“The new facilities will provide a significant boost to sporting and community infrastructure in the western region of Melbourne - the Bulldogs backyard - and the fastest growing community in the country,” he said.

The Bulldogs are also set to strengthen their partnership with AFL Victoria that manages the Victorian Women’s Football League.

The oval will provide training facilities for the VWFL Academy and could hold VWFL home and away and finals matches and will support the WRFL Youth Girls competition.

It comes after the successful establishment of the Western Bulldogs Women’s Team and the All-Girls NAB Auskick Centre.

The new upgrade will build on the recent transformation of the ground into a community hub that sees more than 100,000 people visit the precinct each year to access the childcare centre, sports stadium and cafe.

“We look forward to further transforming Victoria University Whitten Oval into a place where our community can come to not only enjoy football but to experience a wide range of activities for the whole family,” Mr Garlick said.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/...-million-upgrade/story-fngnvmj7-1227061446785

 

[TempleKelvington]

Well done Vital on getting the information. I really am looking forward to what Footscray does in terms of it's list management. I'm not at all surprised that they will look to grab kids rather VFL players from other clubs.

Although with Markovic going and Talia and Roberts likely to play more senior footy I wonder if we might be a bit light on for mature KP defenders. A lot would fall onto the shoulders of Hamling and Zcord and whoever else we draft like McDonald if we take him. Not saying that is a bad thing but a bit of experience down there would help.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Sad to see Marko go but it's the best decision for him, especially given the acquisitions of Zaine Cordy and Joel Hamling, and our supposed interest in a couple of key defenders in the draft.

 

[VitalDread]

Delisted player profiles: 2014 Edition.

52. WILL SULLIVAN
Height: 203cm
Weight: 103kg
D.O.B.: 24/08/89
Previous Club: Werribee (VFL), West Coast Eagles (AFL)
Versatile tall Will Sullivan has shown he is highly capable at both ends of the ground throughout his AFL career. The former West Coast rookie comes to the Bulldogs after a stint playing with Werribee in the VFL and has already improved his fitness this pre-season.

61. TOM GLEESON


Height: 184cm
Weight: 85kg
D.O.B.: 4/04/90
Previous Club: St Bernards (VAFA)
Player Sponsor: John & Jenny Leaper - TLC Aged Care
Gleeson is a relatively raw football talent who hails from a tennis background. Recruited from St Bernard’s last year in the amateurs, the 23-year-old is a dedicated trainer who has already made gains throughout the pre-season.



73. LUKAS MARKOVIC

Height: 193cm
Weight: 95kg
D.O.B.: 05/01/87
Previous Club: Western Bulldogs (AFL)
Player Sponsor: The Bulldogs Taskforce
Markovic has been named co-captain of the team after spending four years on the Bulldogs senior list. The dour defender has ample AFL and VFL experience and will lock down a key defensive post.

6. HAYDEN WALTERS


Height: 187cm
Weight: 91kg
D.O.B.: 03/08/92
Previous Club: East Point (BFL)
The Ballarat product is a big bodied midfielder / half back. He is fit, hard and tough around the ball. His physicality will greatly benefit the young and developing Footscray side.

 

[Tommycash]

Great thread. It's all very exciting times for the dogs!

 

[black pup]

Sad to see Marko go but it's the best decision for him, especially given the acquisitions of Zaine Cordy and Joel Hamling, and our supposed interest in a couple of key defenders in the draft.

Marko is well and truly over the hill, 12 kg over wt, he had lost 2 to 3 meters in pace. Played local football most of season.
Marko enjoy local football .

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Courtesy of Tommy Williams on Twitter. black pup is on the money, he's finished.

 

[Fossie 32]

Courtesy of Tommy Williams on Twitter. black pup is on the money, he's finished.

Pure muscle.

Nice work VitalDread . Looking forward to Footscray's second season esp with more WO games. Club should do a video of the first round game ... that was magic. [GF went allright too but I recorded that ]

 

[Testekill]

Hopefully Russell stays on next year. He was pretty handy in defense.

 

[TheHoneyBadger]

Pure muscle.

Nice work VitalDread . Looking forward to Footscray's second season esp with more WO games. Club should do a video of the first round game ... that was magic. [GF went allright too but I recorded that ]

Have to stick by the #37s, hey Foss?

Hopefully it returns for 2015.

 

[Fossie 32]

Have to stick by the #37s, hey Foss?

Hopefully it returns for 2015.

Bit of a fan of Jamo54 though

 

[Nath09]

Can any regular Footscray watchers speak as to why Will Sullivan was delisted? Just not up to it or is there more to it?

 

[Testekill]

Can any regular Footscray watchers speak as to why Will Sullivan was delisted? Just not up to it or is there more to it?

Considering he never played a game for Footscray? Probably because he honestly isn't that good of a player. He was there as insurance but Campbell dominated this year, Cordy stepped up and we used Fort as our other ruckman.

 

[VitalDread]

Can any regular Footscray watchers speak as to why Will Sullivan was delisted? Just not up to it or is there more to it?

Hes overseas atm and unsure if he wants to keep going on

 

[Dav1d]

I am anxious to see who we get on the Footscray list for next year, going to be tough to get to another Grand Final next year

some of the AFL listed players might get more Senior games and a good chunk of depth has been lost

Will Mark Austin/Tom Young play for Footscray if they can't get onto the rookie list at another club? I hope if they don't, they choose to stick around

 

[VitalDread]

VFL Players return to training this wednesday evening

 

[Fossie 32]

Facebook news!!!

RUMOUR: Bulldog great Simon Beasley has told some die hard bulldogs supporters himself that his son, Will, has rediscovered his love for the game and has been added to the VFL list for 2015. Apparently he is already at the club training.

 

[VitalDread]

Facebook news!!!

RUMOUR: Bulldog great Simon Beasley has told some die hard bulldogs supporters himself that his son, Will, has rediscovered his love for the game and has been added to the VFL list for 2015. Apparently he is already at the club training.

Cleveland mentioned that will is considering coming back- source was his dad.

 

[maddog37]

Is he any good?

 

[VitalDread]

Is he any good?

Did 5 years of rowing at harvard i'm let to believe.
Would be very raw but i think he was 194cm and is built like a tank.

 

[Testekill]

Gotta think that five years of rowing will give you ridiculous upper body strength.

 

[VitalDread]

Gotta think that five years of rowing will give you ridiculous upper body strength.

and your endurance would be amazing.

 

[Fossie 32]

Cleveland mentioned that will is considering coming back- source was his dad.

But now he is training with the club!!!!!!!