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An older article previously overlooked.
HAMILTON SPECTATOR
Thursday, March 2 2006
By MICHAEL HOWARD
Bulldogs shaping up with little fuss
EAST Gambier's camp is flying under the radar, keeping proceedings low key ahead of its assault on Western Border's 2006 season.
After reaching the heights of a grand final appearance last season, the SA Bulldogs are optimistic that further good times lay ahead, despite what has generally been a headline-free couple of months.
"Things are probably a little more relaxed," East coach, Simon Quinn, said.
"We haven't talked about the grand final a lot so far, but over the next six weeks we will look to get to the level that we have to be at.
"We said after the grand final that we want to take the positives out of it, even though we lost, but to also try and understand fully that because we made one, it doesn't mean we can make it the following year."
In the clearance stakes, East has largely been a non-factor.
With the exception of former Adelaide Crow, Matthew Kluzek, who was signed pre-Christmas, the SA Bulldogs improvement is expected to come within.
Notably, Sam McCracken and Michael Butler are tipped to improve the Dogs' tall stocks, with the duo to return after being sidelined for 2005.
On the downside, promising youngsters Scott Ward and Hamish Harris have aligned with Kalangadoo.
Generally though, East version 2006 should be similar to that which impressed last campaign, though Quinn remained hopeful there may remain a headline in the Bulldogs' pre-season.
"I can't see us recruiting too many big names," Quinn said. "We are speaking to two blokes from Adelaide and the possibility of that coming off is 50-50.
"We are looking to relocate them to Mt Gambier, but might not know where they stand until SANFL trials are over."
As far as needs go, Quinn said the only glaring deficiency in East's line-up is its defensive talls.
"I thought last season that we needed a couple of extra key defenders.
"All year we got along a bit short down back. Tom O'Connor is six foot one and we had no-one else above that. It is one area that we needed to get better.
"It is definitely still a work in progress. We may need to reshuffle things and give our guys the opportunity to push back.
"Tom O'Connor won't be back until round six, so we will look for others to step up and it could mean the likes of myself will go back there and take on a role."
Notably, McCracken and Butler may well prove vital in that regard.
McCracken is a key position type who missed last year due to injury, when he played only one game.
"This year he will have done a full pre-season by round one," Quinn said.
"He is a respected player in the competition and I don't think that we have seen the best of him.
"He is a key defender, no doubt about that and is the type that can match if with a big key forward.
"However, we also want to build on his ability to work in the forward line.
"We want a list of blokes capable of playing one week in defence and the next week producing some good football in the forward line."
Butler, who arrived at East from Kongorong, is expected to be another versatile tall.
"He came across in 2004. Is six foot four and a big left-footer and runs well.
"He is a ruckman /forward but we are sure he can also do a job down back.
"He had last year off, but hasn't missed a beat at training. We are not expecting huge things from him, but are just hoping for a good year of footy."
For now, the Bulldogs are biding their time as the season nears, with Quinn "happy with the numbers and happy with the attitude on the training track" as East continues to attract mid-30s to its training.
"The boys have got their fitness level up after we went pretty hard at it early, then dropped it off the last few weeks and now we'll start to pick it up again for the start of the season."
HAMILTON SPECTATOR
Thursday, March 2 2006
By MICHAEL HOWARD
Bulldogs shaping up with little fuss
EAST Gambier's camp is flying under the radar, keeping proceedings low key ahead of its assault on Western Border's 2006 season.
After reaching the heights of a grand final appearance last season, the SA Bulldogs are optimistic that further good times lay ahead, despite what has generally been a headline-free couple of months.
"Things are probably a little more relaxed," East coach, Simon Quinn, said.
"We haven't talked about the grand final a lot so far, but over the next six weeks we will look to get to the level that we have to be at.
"We said after the grand final that we want to take the positives out of it, even though we lost, but to also try and understand fully that because we made one, it doesn't mean we can make it the following year."
In the clearance stakes, East has largely been a non-factor.
With the exception of former Adelaide Crow, Matthew Kluzek, who was signed pre-Christmas, the SA Bulldogs improvement is expected to come within.
Notably, Sam McCracken and Michael Butler are tipped to improve the Dogs' tall stocks, with the duo to return after being sidelined for 2005.
On the downside, promising youngsters Scott Ward and Hamish Harris have aligned with Kalangadoo.
Generally though, East version 2006 should be similar to that which impressed last campaign, though Quinn remained hopeful there may remain a headline in the Bulldogs' pre-season.
"I can't see us recruiting too many big names," Quinn said. "We are speaking to two blokes from Adelaide and the possibility of that coming off is 50-50.
"We are looking to relocate them to Mt Gambier, but might not know where they stand until SANFL trials are over."
As far as needs go, Quinn said the only glaring deficiency in East's line-up is its defensive talls.
"I thought last season that we needed a couple of extra key defenders.
"All year we got along a bit short down back. Tom O'Connor is six foot one and we had no-one else above that. It is one area that we needed to get better.
"It is definitely still a work in progress. We may need to reshuffle things and give our guys the opportunity to push back.
"Tom O'Connor won't be back until round six, so we will look for others to step up and it could mean the likes of myself will go back there and take on a role."
Notably, McCracken and Butler may well prove vital in that regard.
McCracken is a key position type who missed last year due to injury, when he played only one game.
"This year he will have done a full pre-season by round one," Quinn said.
"He is a respected player in the competition and I don't think that we have seen the best of him.
"He is a key defender, no doubt about that and is the type that can match if with a big key forward.
"However, we also want to build on his ability to work in the forward line.
"We want a list of blokes capable of playing one week in defence and the next week producing some good football in the forward line."
Butler, who arrived at East from Kongorong, is expected to be another versatile tall.
"He came across in 2004. Is six foot four and a big left-footer and runs well.
"He is a ruckman /forward but we are sure he can also do a job down back.
"He had last year off, but hasn't missed a beat at training. We are not expecting huge things from him, but are just hoping for a good year of footy."
For now, the Bulldogs are biding their time as the season nears, with Quinn "happy with the numbers and happy with the attitude on the training track" as East continues to attract mid-30s to its training.
"The boys have got their fitness level up after we went pretty hard at it early, then dropped it off the last few weeks and now we'll start to pick it up again for the start of the season."
