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GISBORNE coach Clinton Young is already getting a taste of the selection headaches that come with what will be a list with far greater depth on it this year.
The Bulldogs are shaping as the big mover in the BFNL this season as they aim to use last year's return to the finals as their launching pad to be among the top echelon of contenders.
As well as luring a host of one-point players back to the club - Pat McKenna, Scott Walsh, Tim Walsh, Casey Summerfield, James Ferry - plus 2017 TAC Cup Morrish Medal runner-up Brad Bernacki, the Bulldogs also have 14 players moving up out of the under-18 premiership squad of last year.
"At this time last year I felt we were in the process of still trying to come together, whereas this season we had a good six-week block before Christmas and have ramped things up over the past few weeks," Young said on Wednesday.
"Selection-wise, this time last year I had a fairly good understanding of how the team was going to be looking, whereas at the moment there is still a lot to think about how the team is shaping up with the extra depth, which is a great thing for the club.
At the moment there is still a lot to think about how the team is shaping up with the extra depth
- Clinton Young - Gisborne coach
"Having a bit more experience around the club this year has been really positive and it feels we're in a far better position to start the year off well."
The Bulldogs were slow out of the blocks last season, winning just one of their first four games.
However, they won 10 of their next 13 to force their way into the finals for the first time since 2014.
Among the Bulldogs new signings, key defender Ferry has spent the past five years in the VFL system with Essendon.
Ferry has overcome two serious knee injuries already in his career, which he has managed throughout the pre-season.
"He has been doing a fair bit of training. He hasn't participated in full training, but we think he will be okay for the start of the year," Young said.
The Bulldogs will play away practice matches against Macleod (March 22) and Sunbury (March 30).
Gisborne's first game of 2019 will be under lights at Castlemaine on April 13.
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