Home Grown Bulldogs - Good Article
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:26 pmANY talk of Central District attempting to buy premierships with heavy recruiting is total fallacy.
It is a misguided perception that the Bulldogs are constantly busy in the player market, flooding its side with imports.
In fact, the only player from their second semi-final outfit new to the club this year was Werribee's Chad O'Sullivan.
Consider this - the Bulldogs used 15 players from its zone in the second semi-final victory over Woodville-West Torrens.
That means just six were recruited and that includes Elijah Ware, who came from North Adelaide's zone but did not play a senior game with the Roosters.
Compare those figures to the Eagles, who used 10 recruits against North Adelaide in the preliminary final on Sunday.
The Roosters had 12 imports in their line-up while South Adelaide had a whopping 16 recruits in its side for its first finals appearance since 1992.
Even the Port Adelaide Magpies, breeders of so much talent over the years, relied on 11 outsiders for the elimination final.
"For years we have been accused of recruiting heavily but that is not correct," Bulldogs general manager Kris Grant said.
"And most of those we recruited who played last week have been with us for a while."
The ability of the Bulldogs to provide a comfortable home for those they entice to the club has been a key ingredient in the rise to power. It has meant a stable environment.
The Gowans twins, Chris and James, joined from St Kilda in 2000 and Luke Cowan and Paul Scoullar came from Victoria and New South Wales respectively the following year.
These are quality clubmen - even the Gowans boys who rival fans despise like no other - who have more than repaid the club with their services.
It is a misguided perception that the Bulldogs are constantly busy in the player market, flooding its side with imports.
In fact, the only player from their second semi-final outfit new to the club this year was Werribee's Chad O'Sullivan.
Consider this - the Bulldogs used 15 players from its zone in the second semi-final victory over Woodville-West Torrens.
That means just six were recruited and that includes Elijah Ware, who came from North Adelaide's zone but did not play a senior game with the Roosters.
Compare those figures to the Eagles, who used 10 recruits against North Adelaide in the preliminary final on Sunday.
The Roosters had 12 imports in their line-up while South Adelaide had a whopping 16 recruits in its side for its first finals appearance since 1992.
Even the Port Adelaide Magpies, breeders of so much talent over the years, relied on 11 outsiders for the elimination final.
"For years we have been accused of recruiting heavily but that is not correct," Bulldogs general manager Kris Grant said.
"And most of those we recruited who played last week have been with us for a while."
The ability of the Bulldogs to provide a comfortable home for those they entice to the club has been a key ingredient in the rise to power. It has meant a stable environment.
The Gowans twins, Chris and James, joined from St Kilda in 2000 and Luke Cowan and Paul Scoullar came from Victoria and New South Wales respectively the following year.
These are quality clubmen - even the Gowans boys who rival fans despise like no other - who have more than repaid the club with their services.
