Bullies Preseason 2014/15

[Ricochet]

Thought I'd start this because we'll be getting a heap of updates like this

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-13/bont-bigger-than-ever?utm_medium=RSS

Bigger Bontempelli 'dominates' Bulldogs' pre-season training

MARCUS Bontempelli is set to build on his outstanding debut season after returning to training noticeably bigger.

The young Western Bulldog has been an early star of the pre-season, according to assistant coach Steven King, having added about 7kg to his 193cm frame.

It's an enticing prospect for fans who watched the teenager shrug opponents off with ease at times in his first season, most notably when he kicked a match-winning goal against Melbourne in round 15.

"He has dominated. He came back looking really good," King told the Herald Sun of Bontempelli, who finished one vote behind young Lion Lewie Taylor in last season's NAB AFL Rising Star Award.

"He has put on a bit of weight and is about 93 kilos now. That's about seven kilos more than he was (at the start of last year). He is starting to fill into his frame."

While Bontempelli is flying, another high-profile Bulldog pup is being eased into training.

Prized recruit Tom Boyd, lured from Greater Western Sydney on a seven-year deal reportedly worth more than $6 million, is yet to hit the track with his new teammates after recovering from appendicitis.

[Toga]

Sounds like Bob Murphy is the frontrunner to take over the captaincy for next year - good choice I think :)

[stew42]

7kg? Blimey, Bont's only going to get better!

[Nige]

Dogs have called a presser for 12:30pm AEST to announce their new skipper.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-21/murphy-to-captain-dogs

[Ricochet]

Good call with Murph. Obviously there are no standout kids coming through that are ready to take over just yet, but a year or so with Murphy as captain gives a chance for guys like Libba and co to develop their leadership further

[Nige]

Good call with Murph. Obviously there are no standout kids coming through that are ready to take over just yet, but a year or so with Murphy as captain gives a chance for guys like Libba and co to develop their leadership further

Bob's a fine leader, should do well for the next couple of years. When he's ready to move on, I'm sure somebody like Jacko Macrae will be ready to fill the captain's shoes.

[Ricochet]

Good call with Murph. Obviously there are no standout kids coming through that are ready to take over just yet, but a year or so with Murphy as captain gives a chance for guys like Libba and co to develop their leadership further

Bob's a fine leader, should do well for the next couple of years. When he's ready to move on, I'm sure somebody like Jacko Macrae will be ready to fill the captain's shoes.

Think Macrae will be a fair bit off it man, I mean he'll still only be 22 :P

[Nige]

Good call with Murph. Obviously there are no standout kids coming through that are ready to take over just yet, but a year or so with Murphy as captain gives a chance for guys like Libba and co to develop their leadership further

Bob's a fine leader, should do well for the next couple of years. When he's ready to move on, I'm sure somebody like Jacko Macrae will be ready to fill the captain's shoes.

Think Macrae will be a fair bit off it man, I mean he'll still only be 22 :P

Macrae's no Trengove, he'll be able to handle it.  ;)

[Grazz]

Congrats Bob, ripper bloke and one of my favourites.

[Ricochet]

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2015-01-23/young-dogs-shoulder-blow

Western Bulldogs father-son recruit Zaine Cordy will miss the start of the 2015 season after having a shoulder reconstruction.

The 18-year-old defender, who arrived at the Bulldogs via pick No.64 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, had experienced discomfort during his first pre-season and the club decided it was better for him to receive immediate treatment to fix the issue.

The rehab period is expected to be at least four months, with the Dogs hopeful he will resume full training in the early part of the season.

"Zaine had some instability in his left shoulder when he was drafted and after a short period rehabilitating the area, the club decided that to avoid further damage to the shoulder, the best approach was to intervene surgically," the Dogs’ general manager of football Graham Lowe told AFL.com.au.

"As with all of our younger players, we make these decisions with a view to the long-term and we look forward to Zaine getting back to full training in the early parts of the season."

[Ricochet]

http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2015-02-12/bluechip-boyd

Boyd like a 'blue-chip stock': Beveridge

If Western Bulldogs fans think prized recruit Tom Boyd is going to be transformed into a star forward overnight, they better think again.

There has been plenty of hype surrounding the 19-year-old since he arrived at Whitten Oval in October last year on a long-term multi-million dollar deal, after managing just nine games in his debut AFL season at Greater Western Sydney.

The Bulldogs have been crying out for a key forward since the departure of Barry Hall at the end of 2011, and despite not playing a game yet for the club, Boyd is fast being considered as one of the Dogs' most important players.

Charged with mentoring Boyd and helping to mould him into a modern AFL player, is new coach Luke Beveridge, who was appointed in November after the blockbuster Boyd-Griffen trade was manufactured by the club.

In an exclusive interview with AFL.com.au, Beveridge acknowledged the young spearhead had the talent to become one of the best forwards in the competition, but he said it was unrealistic to expect that to happen quickly.   

"He's not going to come out this year and blow people's minds I can absolutely guarantee that," Beveridge said on Wednesday.

"But we're going to help him do the best that he can and support him along the way. He's been really impressive over the pre-season, he's worked hard.

"The expectations on Tom, there is no doubt they're more external than internal. We know that he's going to be a very, very good player for the football club. He's probably like a blue-chip stock really, he'll pay dividends along the way but it's probably going to take a bit of time as he's only 19."

The Bulldogs are mindful that key position players take longer to develop.

When asked just how good Boyd could be, Beveridge drew comparisons to the development of Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins.

"It's hard to forecast exactly how good he can become," he said.

"But if you think of some of the young key forwards, like a young Tom Hawkins and his growth, it probably took Tom a little while to get to where he wanted to go. But he's become one of the premier key forwards in the competition and is quite an outstanding and imposing figure.

"The similarity is Boydy is a big man. He's going to be a handful and what he will do is create opportunities for his teammates because he'll draw a crowd. He's a very good contested mark and so he could potentially be one of the game's premier forwards but it's no going to be this year.

"It's going to take some time but that's not to say we're going to go easy on him because we want him to be the best player he can be, as quickly as possible."

Like all coaches, Beveridge just wants his young players to show continual improvement and development.

While Boyd will play predominantly in attack, the coach also flagged the former Giant will spend time in the ruck to develop his versatility.

By his own admission last year, Boyd bulked up too much in his first pre-season, and ultimately struggled to run out four full quarters, so working on his fitness base has been key heading into season 2015.

"Key forwards, big guys, in the early part of their journey, need to learn to cover ground and it takes a while to build your tank," Beveridge said.

"Boydy is building his tank so he can't get too big because he does need to run. We need him to be good at the other phases, not when we're just in attacking mode."

[Ricochet]

Annnd on the other Boyd


http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/2015-02-12/boyd-on-the-defence

Boyd adapting to defensive role

Dogs veteran Matthew Boyd says there is still plenty of learning to do as he enters his 13th AFL season.

The 32-year-old, who has spent the majority of his 239-game career in the midfield, is adapting to a potential new role across half-back and is finding motivation in the new task.

“It’s been exciting, it’s been a new challenge so I’m just trying to learn to play a different role.

“I just want to add a little bit of versatility to my role and that’s been really exciting.”

Coach Luke Beveridge is instilling flexibility in his new team and Boyd says adding a more defensive side to his game has been a key motivator this pre-season.

[Ricochet]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-17/new-tricks-for-dog?utm_medium=RSS

Bulldog Jarrad Grant to be unleashed in the midfield

WESTERN Bulldogs forward Jarrad Grant will welcome the challenge of being swung through midfield next season as coach Luke Beveridge implements a more unpredictable playing style.

Beveridge has encouraged more adventurous football since he took the reins last November and, in a nod to his tutelage under triple-premiership mentor Alastair Clarkson, the former Hawthorn assistant is also demanding greater flexibility from his players.

Veteran midfielder Matthew Boyd has been training across half-back, while boom recruit Tom Boyd has been earmarked for time in the ruck as well as in attack.

Grant, who has roamed on a wing during match simulation, said Bulldogs supporters would see players thrown into unfamiliar positions in 2015.

[Ricochet]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-02-27/clay-smith-making-good-progress?utm_medium=RSS

WESTERN Bulldogs youngster Clay Smith is making strong progress in his bid to return from his latest knee reconstruction and hopes to be back playing in the early stages of the season.

Smith ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee for the second time in July last year, rounding out a challenging period in his young career.

But he has joined his Bulldogs teammates in modified training drills and expects he will progress into a revised version of full contact training in the coming weeks.

"Within the early stages of the season, I hope I'll be back playing football," Smith, 21, told AFL.com.au.

[Ricochet]

confirmed ACL for Libba :(