GISBORNE
FOOTBALL
Coach: Clinton Young (2nd year)
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Last year: 5th - 11-8
Arrivals: Jack Baker, Brad Bernacki, Dylan Clayton, James Ferry, Pat McKenna, Casey Summerfield, Scott Walsh, Tim Walsh.
Departures: Ross Celano, Riley Paterson, Darrean Wyatt.
Player points: 43
Last flag: 2006
First month:
R1: v Castlemaine (a)
R2: v Kyneton (h)
R3: v Kangaroo Flat (a)
R4: v Strathfieldsaye (h)
Last season's MVP top 5:
Jack Reaper - 51
Ethan Minns - 49
Matt Goodyear - 42
Josh Grabham - 35
Nick Doolan - 30
Last season's top 5 goalkickers:
Jake Conolan - 34
Thomas Wood - 27
Jaidyn Owen - 24
Jack Scanlon - 22
Clinton Young - 14
Past five years:
2018: 5th - 11-8
2017: 7th - 6-12
2016: 9th - 3-15
2015: 6th - 6-12
2014: 3rd - 14-7
Q and A with coach Clinton Young
The club has been through a rebuilding phase in recent seasons, but given your strong recruiting and steps forward last year Gisborne is now expected to be one of the premiership threats. How do you expect your playing group to embrace the increased expectation?
"It's really exciting. Last year we proved we could compete against the best teams, particularly in the back end of the season.
"From day one of pre-season I've laid down our intention to make sure we're focused on taking the next step... time will tell where we end up, but I expect we can be right in there among it challenging and definitely matching those top-level teams.
"Other teams probably won't be considering us just a young, developing team any more, so it's an exciting prospect to try to take the next step."
You had a lot of young players play in their first senior final against Sandhurst last year. What do you think is the biggest learning they will take out of that experience that will hold them in good stead for this year?
"The experience of the day and the build-up was something new... there's obviously a lot of added pressure.
"It was good for those players to get a taste of finals footy and the challenge now is to make sure we're playing at our best for four quarters of a game.
"For three quarters we were right in amongst it that day and it could have gone either way, so it's all about learning from that and, hopefully, if those chances come around again we can be better for longer."
How have the likes of Scott and Tim Walsh, Casey Summerfield and Pat McKenna slotted back in at the club after a few years away from Gardiner Reserve?
"They have fitted back in really well. Patty coming from his experience in the AFL is going to be really helpful and is an assistant coach.
"Casey being a former captain of the club adds more experience and the Walsh brothers also have a lot of experience, so as a mix it's fantastic to have more senior players around and setting the standards.
"It has been a really smooth transition back for them. They add to our depth and as a whole the group is really excited because it helps to create more positions for spots."
Summary
No longer are the Bulldogs in a development phase - they have now transitioned into flag contenders following a busy off-season to build on their resurgent 2018.
The Bulldogs last year reached the finals for the first time since 2014, and while they bowed out against Sandhurst at the first hurdle, the experience is bound to hold the group in good stead for this year.
With clubs across the state now bound by the AFL Victoria player points system, the Bulldogs have lured a host of one-pointers back to the club.
Pat McKenna (four years in the AFL with GWS Giants and Melbourne); Casey Summerfield (former captain, best and fairest, BFNL inter-league player); Scott Walsh (2012 Micheslen medallist, best and fairest, BFNL inter-league player); and Tim Walsh (best and fairest, BFNL inter-league player) are all returning to Gardiner Reserve in 2019 as one-pointers.
McKenna will be one of three ex-AFL players on the Bulldogs' list this year, along with coach Clinton Young and midfielder Matt Goodyear.
McKenna will give the Bulldogs another target to kick to in the forward line; Scott Walsh and Summerfield add further depth to an impressive midfield group; and Tim Walsh will slot back into a key defensive role.
James Ferry - also a one-pointer - is with the Bulldogs full-time this year following five seasons on Essendon's VFL list and is another defensive addition, while the Bulldogs' list of recruits also includes a previous runner-up in the TAC Cup Morrish Medal in on-baller Brad Bernacki.
The Bulldogs look strong all over the ground - their defence is stacked with experience, plus reigning best and fairest Jack Reaper; competition for spots in the midfield is going to be red-hot with a contingent that includes Goodyear, Ethan Minns, Bernacki, captain Jarad Lynch, Summerfield, Scott Walsh and Nick Doolan; and the addition of McKenna to the forward line accompanies the exciting young trio of Jack Scanlon, Jake Conolan and Jaidyn Owen.
The Bulldogs were the big movers in the competition last year and look set to be again this season where a berth in the top three looks firmly in their grasp.
Practice matches - v Macleod (March 22 at Hadfield), v Sunbury (March 30 at Sunbury).
Related: BFNL season preview - Eaglehawk
Related: BFNL season preview - Castlemaine
NETBALL
Coach: Kim Bailey (second year)
Last year: Second
Arrivals: Lilly Walsh, Emerson Lakey
Departures: Rachel McKenzie, Melinda Luke.
Coaching panel: Kim Bailey (A-grade); Tarryn Rymer (A-reserve); Nathan Thompson (B-grade); Sharon Palfrey (B-reserve); Maddy Stewart (17-and-under).
Last five years: Second (2018); third (2017); fourth (2016); third (2015); third (2014).
Q and A with coach Kim Bailey
Two outs (Melinda Luke and Rachel McKenzie), but two great inclusions in Lilly Walsh and Emerson Lakey. Where does that leave you strength-wise?
"The new players aside, consistency-wise I think we will have all our players available a little bit more than what we did last year. We have (goal shooter) Clare Vearing, who has committed to the whole season, where last season she was a bit in and out after coming into the team a bit later in the season. I think with the same nucleus and a few other things going our way, we will be that bit stronger."
Was there anything in particular you took out of last season's grand final loss?
"If you look at every game we played in the second half of the year, we had a really good run, but that consistency in high-pressure games is something we have looked at - just doing the hard work that little bit longer than our opponents.
"We need to play four quarters of netball, not one like we did in the grand final, which really cost us. Had we played like we did in the last quarter for four quarters, the result would have been a lot different. So consistency in or game will be a focus."
Your impressions on the strength of the BFNL competition heading into 2019?
"Sandhurst you know is going to be strong. I know Allira Holmes heading to Eaglehawk is going to really strengthen them up. But there's been some movement elsewhere.
"South Bendigo has picked up Chloe Langley, who is in the 17-and-under state team, that should help them be that little bit more consistent and help tighten up the competition. Kyneton ... the majority of their A-reserve team will be there and they looked very strong.
"We have them first up (after a first round bye). It will be good having that tough hit-out every week and not so many byes."
SUMMARY
Fourth in 2016, third in 2017, and second in 2018.
Does Gisborne go one better again in 2019 and claim their first premiership win since 2013 and the Bulldogs' second in the BFNL?
The Bulldogs will begin the chase with a stronger line-up than the one which sent last season's grand final into overtime, before going down by six goals against Sandhurst.
The Bulldogs will be without star young defender Melinda Luke, who will play with Riddell in 2019, and goaler Rachel McKenzie, who has made her way back to Kangaroo Flat.
In their place come Lilly Walsh - a defender with plenty of VNL experience - and Emerson Lakey, who is stepping up from A-reserve after playing for the Bulldogs' 17-and-under team the previous season.
Walsh joins a defence already packed with talent in the form of reigning Betty Thompson medallist Maddy Stewart and young gun Keara Fitzgerald.
Second-year coach Kim Bailey is confident those additions, together with greater availability from the likes of goal shooter Clare Vearing, who joined the club during the 2018 season, will ensure a more consistent line-up and performance.
The combination of Vearing and Ella Bertachinni, who was fifth in last year's league medal count and was the key to the Bulldogs' final quarter fight-back in the 2018 grand final, again figures to pose plenty of headaches for opposing defences.
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