Re: R.d.f.l Thread 2008
These stories were in last week's paper, but most eyes missed them because of the Cornish story.
Bakers are best
BOOM recruit Adrian Baker excited the Romsey crowd on Saturday, as the livewire forward showed plenty of spark in the Redbacks’ practice match against Jacana.
It was the Baker show, with half-back-flanker Luke Baker also dominating for the home side.
In what was an impressive all-round performance, rumours that Romsey were to be the biggest sliders of 2008 in the Riddell District Football League have since been quashed.
At this stage only two players are confirmed departures from the Redbacks – Brydan Morgan and Paul Brady – and although the pair was instrumental in Romsey’s performances last year, they have been aptly replaced.
Up forward, the experienced Adrian Baker (formerly of Broadford) has the capacity to kick 80 goals in a season, with support likely to come from fellow recruit Clint Wheatley (Wakool).
Wheatley, a brother of AFL star Paul (Demons), played on the wing on Saturday, but is expected to share the key forward duties with Steve Burlak.
Other recruits to the Redbacks include Warren Carton (Tullamarine), Daniel Mitchell (Avenel), Adam Kearney (Wakool), and Bronson Wheatley (Lalor).
Coach Mark Dipietro was playing down his side’s chances after the match.
“We’re just aiming to make finals. We’ve had a few hitouts now to dust off the cobwebs and we’re looking forward to round one,” he said.
Dipietro said that most clubs appear to have recruited well over the summer, and said the competition is likely to be very even once again.
“We don’t know who everyone else has picked up, so it is going to be hard to gauge where we are at. We think we’ll be thereabouts.”
Tigers look solid
LANCEFIELD footballers kicked off their 2008 campaign in style last Saturday, winning their practice match against Newlyn with ease.
In excellent conditions at Lancefield Park, the relatively new-look Tigers were full of running, aided by the ruckwork of new recruit Tom Waters, who dominated the hitouts.
The lanky 21-year-old from Bulleen Templestowe in the VAFA was simply too good for his Newlyn counterparts, and was instrumental in Lancefield kicking six unanswered goals in the opening quarter.
His ability to dominate and ruck all game allows the Tigers to play club stalwart Phil Conway on a wing or in a key position, which effectively means two new recruits for the club.
Midfielders Chris Collins, Simon Choate and Jay Shewan showed their class through the centre, while up forward, Scott Smithwick and recruit John Baker (Romsey) both looked potent in front of goal.
Rick Dowling (Woodend-Hesket) enjoyed his first hit out since the Hawks dropped him on the eve of the finals last year, but appeared rusty.
The small forward kicked 42 goals last season, but was controversially axed from the side for the finals series, with Woodend-Hesket coach Mick Giddings favouring youngster Daniel Salpietro for the pocket role.
In what was a brilliant day for the Lancefield club, all three sides were victorious.
The reserves held off Newlyn in the senior curtain raiser, while the Tigers’ Under 18 side defeated Woodend-Hesket in the morning.
With a handful of senior players still to come into the side, Lancefield’s season appears to be promising.
Although Newlyn, (Central Highlands Football League), are probably not as strong as most of the RDFL sides, it was a great opportunity for the Tigers to dust off the cobwebs and gain some much needed confidence before round one.
They will play Romsey in the season opener, at Romsey on Sunday, April 13.
For a full season preview, see next week’s Free Press.
Obviously living way out in the wild west, you can't get my paper, but you can get on www.centralsport.org on Fridays and see most of my footy articles. I'll be doing some brief previews in the RDFL record each week, and will also be doing an RDFL summary for the Midland Express newspaper, based out of Kyneton. All for the love of it!
These stories were in last week's paper, but most eyes missed them because of the Cornish story.
Bakers are best
BOOM recruit Adrian Baker excited the Romsey crowd on Saturday, as the livewire forward showed plenty of spark in the Redbacks’ practice match against Jacana.
It was the Baker show, with half-back-flanker Luke Baker also dominating for the home side.
In what was an impressive all-round performance, rumours that Romsey were to be the biggest sliders of 2008 in the Riddell District Football League have since been quashed.
At this stage only two players are confirmed departures from the Redbacks – Brydan Morgan and Paul Brady – and although the pair was instrumental in Romsey’s performances last year, they have been aptly replaced.
Up forward, the experienced Adrian Baker (formerly of Broadford) has the capacity to kick 80 goals in a season, with support likely to come from fellow recruit Clint Wheatley (Wakool).
Wheatley, a brother of AFL star Paul (Demons), played on the wing on Saturday, but is expected to share the key forward duties with Steve Burlak.
Other recruits to the Redbacks include Warren Carton (Tullamarine), Daniel Mitchell (Avenel), Adam Kearney (Wakool), and Bronson Wheatley (Lalor).
Coach Mark Dipietro was playing down his side’s chances after the match.
“We’re just aiming to make finals. We’ve had a few hitouts now to dust off the cobwebs and we’re looking forward to round one,” he said.
Dipietro said that most clubs appear to have recruited well over the summer, and said the competition is likely to be very even once again.
“We don’t know who everyone else has picked up, so it is going to be hard to gauge where we are at. We think we’ll be thereabouts.”
Tigers look solid
LANCEFIELD footballers kicked off their 2008 campaign in style last Saturday, winning their practice match against Newlyn with ease.
In excellent conditions at Lancefield Park, the relatively new-look Tigers were full of running, aided by the ruckwork of new recruit Tom Waters, who dominated the hitouts.
The lanky 21-year-old from Bulleen Templestowe in the VAFA was simply too good for his Newlyn counterparts, and was instrumental in Lancefield kicking six unanswered goals in the opening quarter.
His ability to dominate and ruck all game allows the Tigers to play club stalwart Phil Conway on a wing or in a key position, which effectively means two new recruits for the club.
Midfielders Chris Collins, Simon Choate and Jay Shewan showed their class through the centre, while up forward, Scott Smithwick and recruit John Baker (Romsey) both looked potent in front of goal.
Rick Dowling (Woodend-Hesket) enjoyed his first hit out since the Hawks dropped him on the eve of the finals last year, but appeared rusty.
The small forward kicked 42 goals last season, but was controversially axed from the side for the finals series, with Woodend-Hesket coach Mick Giddings favouring youngster Daniel Salpietro for the pocket role.
In what was a brilliant day for the Lancefield club, all three sides were victorious.
The reserves held off Newlyn in the senior curtain raiser, while the Tigers’ Under 18 side defeated Woodend-Hesket in the morning.
With a handful of senior players still to come into the side, Lancefield’s season appears to be promising.
Although Newlyn, (Central Highlands Football League), are probably not as strong as most of the RDFL sides, it was a great opportunity for the Tigers to dust off the cobwebs and gain some much needed confidence before round one.
They will play Romsey in the season opener, at Romsey on Sunday, April 13.
For a full season preview, see next week’s Free Press.
Obviously living way out in the wild west, you can't get my paper, but you can get on www.centralsport.org on Fridays and see most of my footy articles. I'll be doing some brief previews in the RDFL record each week, and will also be doing an RDFL summary for the Midland Express newspaper, based out of Kyneton. All for the love of it!
seems he will be replacing Chippa Douglas who will return to Broadford 
