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GOLDEN Square’s bid to ensure its rare absence from the BFNL finals is for one season only has begun with the addition of an Essendon VFL-listed player for the past two seasons.
Alex Marklew is among three new signings confirmed by the Bulldogs, with the 22-year-old set to be a valuable inclusion to Golden Square’s midfield brigade.
Marklew has also previously played with Wangaratta Rovers where he was a Rising Star winner in the Ovens and Murray league in 2013.
“He’s a 190cm midfielder who can also play forward and has a bit of a connection with the club. His grandfather, Bill Wilkinson, is a life member here and he’s very excited that Alex will be playing with us,” Bulldogs coach Bernie Haberman said on Thursday.
“He will give Jack (Geary) and Skinny (Adam Baird) a bit of help through the midfield, which is what we need.
“He also has the ability to play as a permanent forward as well if needed, but that’s not what we’ve recruited him for.”
Marklew has played five VFL games for the Bombers over the past two seasons.
Also joining the Bulldogs in 2019 is former Bendigo Pioneers best and fairest and dual Kyabram premiership player in the Goulburn Valley league, Liam Barrett.
Barrett won the Pioneers’ best and fairest in 2014 and played in both Kyabram’s undefeated 2016 and 2017 premiership teams.
“Liam trained with us spasmodically last year and we were always hopeful that if he decided to leave Kyabram he’d come and play with us,” Haberman said.
“He’s a defender who we will try to play through the midfield. He has a strong body, has won a couple of flags and is a really hard trainer.
“We loved it last year when he would come and train with us because he’d show us up at times with his training standards. He’ll add a bit of size to us through the midfield and we see him being a great addition.
“He’s a great county lad and is going to be a fantastic person for our club.
“He’s said he’d like to get involved in a bit of junior coaching and that shows the sort of quality person he is… it’s good to get good people first and good players second.”
Also joining the Bulldogs as a new recruit is 2017 Calivil United premiership player Sam Brinsmead.
“Sam and Liam are really good friends, and he has also been coached by Brad Eaton before,” Haberman said.
“Brad thinks he’ll bring in something that we don’t have and that’s a bit of speed off half back. He’s a young fella keen to step up and have a crack and we’re looking forward to him joining us.”
The Bulldogs ended the season sixth on the ladder, missing the finals for the first time since 2004.
While the Bulldogs were a rare absentee from the finals they did have the top two in the Michelsen Medal, with captain Jack Geary winning and Adam Baird runner-up, although their positions were reversed in the club best and fairest.
“Jack winning the Michelsen is a just reward,” Haberman said.
“I’m sure he’ll say he’s had better seasons, but it’s almost recognition for his body of work over the best part of a decade.
“He’s just so humble and modest, but he’s the hardest worker at our footy club.
“He does more work away from the track than anyone… he has natural ability, but a lot of what he does comes back to the fact he gives himself every opportunity to be the best player he can be with the amount of work he puts in.”
READ MORE – Golden Square skipper wins Michelsen Medal
Meanwhile, Haberman expects key forward Travis Baird could have a delayed start to his 2019 season by up to a month due to a shoulder reconstruction.
Baird endured a frustrating 2018 season in which he twice dislocated his shoulder and was restricted to just six games.
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