Home Grown Bulldogs - Good Article

[sydney-dog]

ANY 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.

[Aerie]

Yeah, the five recruits that retired last year had nothing to do with the previous 5 premierships.....

[sydney-dog]

Aerie

it would be interesting, this is a off the cuff comment, but I would think the dogs over the past 6-7 years have not recruited as heavy as other clubs but have got more value in terms of total games and years services from their recruits, that is the other side of the coin that this article is implying

[Ecky]

This is the number of home-grown players Glenelg had in each game this year. Note that I classified Tom Logan as a local, even though he played his junior footy in a number of different places. He was the hardest one to define.

Round Players
1 11
2 11
3 9
5 10
6 9
7 11
8 11
9 11
10 9
11 9
12 9
13 8
15 9
16 11
17 11
18 11
19 11
20 11
21 11
23 12

And here are the averages each year since 1999 (to my knowledge... a few of the older players I'm not totally sure about)

Code: Select all

Year Average Number of Locals
1999   10.4
2000   8.5
2001   7.4
2002   7.6
2003   9.3
2004   9.9
2005   7.6
2006   10.3

I wonder if it is a coincidence or not that our two most successful years (1999 and 2006) were the ones when we used the most home-grown talent???

[sydney-dog]

good post ecky

[CENTURION]

BUT, the difference is, that the imports that We have at Centrals are not "money mercenaries" & stay on because they bond with the club & players. Lots of other imports only seem to come here for what appears to be seeking fleeting glory & when that does not happen (generally because they think that they are too good for our comp & don't put in at training & get fat etc., etc.,) they tend to piss off somewhere else.

[mal]

BUT, the difference is, that the imports that We have at Centrals are not "money mercenaries" & stay on because they bond with the club & players. Lots of other imports only seem to come here for what appears to be seeking fleeting glory & when that does not happen (generally because they think that they are too good for our comp & don't put in at training & get fat etc., etc.,) they tend to piss off somewhere else.

Makes it easier to stay if you keep winning flags.

CD recruited the best, and are now promoting the best from within.
What a champion footy club.

[Rik E Boy]

Don't tear em down...get your club to look and learn.

regards,

REB

[Wedgie]

and that includes Elijah Ware, who came from North Adelaide's zone

I wish those bloody Bulldogs would stop poaching North Adelaide players and blood some of their own!!!!

[CENTURION]

McAdam too

[Wedgie]

McAdam too

Yep, MacGowen too, the list is bloody endless!

[CENTURION]

All hacks

[Dogwatcher]

I think that article was interesting - as it explored some of the themes that were debated by many a Centrals supporter earlier in the season - we didn't recruit enough.

I think it's a great piece reinforcing the bonds of the CDFC, but Kris Grant, the wiley ol bugger, is having a bit of a sly giggle at those naysayers from early in the season.

[goraw]

BUT, the difference is, that the imports that We have at Centrals are not "money mercenaries" & stay on because they bond with the club & players. Lots of other imports only seem to come here for what appears to be seeking fleeting glory & when that does not happen (generally because they think that they are too good for our comp & don't put in at training & get fat etc., etc.,) they tend to piss off somewhere else.

pretty easy to bond with a winning culture

[giffo]

McAdam too

Yep, MacGowen too, the list is bloody endless!

Cook, Coulter, Kreig, Hart, etc, etc.

[PhilH]

Nay-sayers

Like the Central supporter who mid-season posted into RPH a bag of marshmellows with names of about 15 Bulldog players in it.

[twosheds]

I would have thought you would have been above tarring thousands of people with the same brush due to the actions of one idiot. Obviously not.

[Dogwatcher]

I don't think he's tarring them with the same brush. Rather providing an example of the feelings from earlier this season.