2nds 2016 VFL training squad

[winty]

THERE has been significant excitement surrounding the changes to Geelong’s AFL list following the 2015 season, but the Bendigo Bank VFL list has also been very active in preparation for season 2016.

Along with a major change in the coaching box that has seen Shane O’Bree replace Paul Hood as VFL Coach, the Bankers’ list is set to have an abundance of fresh talent added for the upcoming season.

“The 2016 VFL recruiting process has been a work in progress over the past six months or so,” VFL and Academy Manager Troy Selwood said.

“We have identified a number of ‘needs’ via other state league programs and the deep local talent pool within the AFL Barwon and AFL South West regions.”

Whilst the preseason squad sees numerous new faces to the VFL system, the Cats have added some experienced talent to bolster its list.

The names that have been added to the training squad include:

- Luke Rounds: a midfielder who has played 61 VFL games for Collingwood and Port Melbourne.
- James Tsitas: has spent the last two seasons at North Ballarat, and is a former Falcon.
- Alex Hickey: A utility who played 12 games with Essendon's VFL side and was a member of St.Joseph's GFL premiership team in 2015.
- Harry Kol: Son of Michael Kol and was the Falcons' B&F winner this year.
- Jordan Keras: Former Falcon who has played for Footscray in the VFL.
- Sam Russell: A former rookie at Port Adelaide.
- Ryan Abbott: The best ruckman in the GFL last season.
- Tom Stewart: A defender from South Barwon.
- Kane Leersen: A midfielder from Colac.
- Mitch Day: A key forward from Geelong Amateurs, who kicked 6 bags of nine or more goals in a game this season in the BFL, and ended up with 114 goals for the season.

Alongside those names, 2015 VFL players Sandy Robinson, Simon Close, Kieran Paliouras, Ryan Williams and Matthew Farrelly have all returned, along with veterans Jackson Hollmer and Ben Raidme and talented youngsters Brenton Rees, Fraser Fort, Tom Atkins and Cameron Tudor.

However, Former Cat Jackson Sheringham, VFL stalwarts Mitch Herbison and Tom Maas, pacey duo Dane McFarlane and Daniel Gibbs and talented youngster Nick Dixon have all left.

The preseason squad will be cut to 24 players, with another 3 or 4 players being named in a development squad.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Quite a lot of change + much to learn about!

Some very exciting additions, winty.

"Ryan Abbott: The best ruckman in the GFL last season" - Wow!!! Anyway he's a chance for the Seniors?

What are your thoughts about the team for next season?

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

Good to see about of experience in the vfl team hopefully combined with a better run with injuries we have a good team.
Competition for spots in the afl team will be tight which will drop some good players to the vfl.

 

[cats_09]

This may not be the right place for this question, but did Guthrie's brother play any VFL games this year? I believe he was part of the development squad, so a chance to play as the 23rd player, but I don't recall reading anything after that or his name mentioned around games.

A follow up question to that, if he was part of the development squad for 2015, can he be part of the development squad in 2016?

 

[Willo_]

The names that have been added to the training squad include:

- Luke Rounds: a midfielder who has played 61 VFL games for Collingwood and Port Melbourne.
- James Tsitas: has spent the last two seasons at North Ballarat, and is a former Falcon.
- Alex Hickey: A utility who played 12 games with Essendon's VFL side and was a member of St.Joseph's GFL premiership team in 2015.
- Harry Kol: Son of Michael Kol and was the Falcons' B&F winner this year.
- Jordan Keras: Former Falcon who has played for Footscray in the VFL.
- Sam Russell: A former rookie at Port Adelaide.
- Ryan Abbott: The best ruckman in the GFL last season.
- Tom Stewart: A defender from South Barwon.
- Kane Leersen: A midfielder from Colac.
- Mitch Day: A key forward from Geelong Amateurs, who kicked 6 bags of nine or more goals in a game this season in the BFL, and ended up with 114 goals for the season.

Alongside those names, 2015 VFL players Sandy Robinson, Simon Close, Kieran Paliouras, Ryan Williams and Matthew Farrelly have all returned, along with veterans Jackson Hollmer and Ben Raidme and talented youngsters Brenton Rees, Fraser Fort, Tom Atkins and Cameron Tudor.

However, Former Cat Jackson Sheringham, VFL stalwarts Mitch Herbison and Tom Maas, pacey duo Dane McFarlane and Daniel Gibbs and talented youngster Nick Dixon have all left.

The preseason squad will be cut to 24 players, with another 3 or 4 players being named in a development squad.

Personally I hope we don't see much of most of these guys....

Would like to actually have a team of largely AFL listed blokes for a change

 

[David the Cat]

Be interesting to see Rounds and Tsitas perform at VFL level...

I wonder if Harry Kol has the talent of his father? Anyone have any thing on him?

 

[FredLeDeux]

Be interesting to see Rounds and Tsitas perform at VFL level...

I wonder if Harry Kol has the talent of his father? Anyone have any thing on him?

Yes, he's his father's son, is that the sort of dirt you were after?