Tom Lather (right) fights for possession for his Gunnedah Bulldogs AFL side.
John Woolaston has little doubt his Gunnedah AFL Bulldogs will face stiff opposition in this weekend’s season opener against Tamworth Swans.
The Swans placed equal last with the Bulldogs on the leaderboard in last year’s Tamworth Australian Football League (TAFL). But Woolaston’s mail is that the fellow competition cellar-dwellers will come ready to fire on Saturday after a lengthy off-season lead-up.
“Swans have training for a couple of months,” Woolaston said.
“We’re definitely going to struggle with fitness and skills.”
The Bulldogs club stalwart has unofficially retired this season in favour of a club managerial, game-day boundary role. But he is prepared to lace up the boots again this year if required.
“I’ll see what happens, they might need me at some point in the season,” he said.
Also taking leave this year according to Woolaston was Andrew Pratt and 10-year, TAFL veteran, David Vidovic.
Key returning players include 2014 TAFL Tony Gillies Medal award winner (best and fairest), Andrew George.
Meanwhile, new recruits Hamish Russell and Brad Jenkinson will add new flavour to the Bulldogs’ line-up.
Russell, a full forward who hails from the Lithgow area, is looking to pull on the boots for his first Aussie Rules run in about eight years.
Jenkinson is a former Rockhampton Aussie Rules player from the Glenmore Bulls AFC – the same club which won last year’s AFL Capricornia A-grade premiership.
Another new acquisition for the Bulldogs, or rather reacquisition, is Jacob Bee-Gill.
He last ran out in the TAFL in the 2011 season and has returned from his West Australian wanderings keen to pull up the socks for the Gunnedah club again this year.
“He’s showing good signs from a few years ago,” Woolaston said.
Gunnedah’s round four clash against the newly formed Moree Suns is much anticipated.
The new TAFL franchise features a number of ex-Bulldogs players, Woolaston said, and will make for an interesting hit-out next month.
“It’s certainly going to be a competitive game,” he said. “But I think we’ll go alright.”
The Gunnedah club is adopting an all-inclusive approach to training and games this season with “no set coach”.
Instead a number of senior Bulldogs’ will combine to lead the side in strategy and game plan.
“We’ll all be working together,” Woolaston said.
The Bulldogs kick off their 2015 season against the Swans at 2pm on Saturday at Tamworth’s No.1 Oval.
The following week Gunnedah is at home to Narrabri at Wolseley Park.
New players are welcome to join the Bulldogs for a run. The club trains 6pm on Monday and Thursday at Wolseley.