GVGjr
22-02-2007, 06:31 AM
Safety first as Dogs greet pre-season with players on ice (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2007/02/21/1171733844520.html)
Samantha Lane, Canberra
February 22, 2007
Jason Akermanis prepares at training yesterday for his Bulldogs debut on Saturday.
If it was a contest of which club was entering a competition more undermanned, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney, who meet in Canberra on Saturday, would present a close one.
Dogs coach Rodney Eade said yesterday that at least eight of his best players would be held back from the game. Paul Roos' Swans, who last week defeated Collingwood in an exhibition match without 14 members of their 2006 grand final side, are habitual slow starters.
But would the Bulldogs be playing to win February honour and glory? Read between these lines: "Once we start playing we want to win, but we won't take any risks getting there," Eade said yesterday.
"What you do in the NAB Cup is not take any risk with players. (Nathan) Eagleton and (Dale) Morris could probably play but it's just not worth the risk. (Chris) Grant's the same. But having said that, staying in the competition means you play at good grounds. If we win we play at Telstra Dome, which is better than going up the bush or interstate again.
"We've got 16 guys unavailable, and I suppose Sydney will have a few out, as well. We'll probably have eight or nine of our best 22 not playing, which is through injury and precaution. That sounds horrific in many ways, but most of those guys will be back in the next two weeks."
Travis Baird would be the only addition to the group of players that had an intraclub hitout last weekend, the coach said.
Robert Murphy, one of the club's many knee victims in 2006, is now just a fortnight away from returning. Encouragingly, he completed the entire 90-minute session the Dogs undertook at Ainslie Football Ground yesterday.
"He has been given the all-clear by the surgeon to play next week," Eade said.
"But he hasn't done any competitive work . . . so we'll give him an extra week. He'll play round three of the NAB Cup, whether in (the) regional (series) or in the NAB Cup."
Mitch Hahn is about a month behind Murphy in his rehabilitation.
"He's more likely to play his first game at Werribee probably early to mid-April, everything going well," Eade said.
Luke Darcy, who the club is nursing back from a second knee reconstruction, and young midfield gun Adam Cooney, still recovering from osteitis pubis, have not travelled to Canberra for the camp.
"It's just a matter of him being confident and ensuring that he's not getting referred pain when he runs," Eade said of the ruckman and former club captain. "His fitness base is pretty good, so we're hopefully he'll return in the next few weeks."
Ryan Hargrave and Peter Street, both recovering from ankle injuries, will miss Saturday's game. Jason Akermanis will play, making his Dogs debut on his 30th birthday. Former West Coast Eagle Andrew McDougall will play, as will Andrejs Everitt, the club's first 2006 national draft pick.
The Bulldogs will familiarise themselves with Manuka Oval, where they have played only one match for premiership points, tomorrow.
Samantha Lane, Canberra
February 22, 2007
Jason Akermanis prepares at training yesterday for his Bulldogs debut on Saturday.
If it was a contest of which club was entering a competition more undermanned, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney, who meet in Canberra on Saturday, would present a close one.
Dogs coach Rodney Eade said yesterday that at least eight of his best players would be held back from the game. Paul Roos' Swans, who last week defeated Collingwood in an exhibition match without 14 members of their 2006 grand final side, are habitual slow starters.
But would the Bulldogs be playing to win February honour and glory? Read between these lines: "Once we start playing we want to win, but we won't take any risks getting there," Eade said yesterday.
"What you do in the NAB Cup is not take any risk with players. (Nathan) Eagleton and (Dale) Morris could probably play but it's just not worth the risk. (Chris) Grant's the same. But having said that, staying in the competition means you play at good grounds. If we win we play at Telstra Dome, which is better than going up the bush or interstate again.
"We've got 16 guys unavailable, and I suppose Sydney will have a few out, as well. We'll probably have eight or nine of our best 22 not playing, which is through injury and precaution. That sounds horrific in many ways, but most of those guys will be back in the next two weeks."
Travis Baird would be the only addition to the group of players that had an intraclub hitout last weekend, the coach said.
Robert Murphy, one of the club's many knee victims in 2006, is now just a fortnight away from returning. Encouragingly, he completed the entire 90-minute session the Dogs undertook at Ainslie Football Ground yesterday.
"He has been given the all-clear by the surgeon to play next week," Eade said.
"But he hasn't done any competitive work . . . so we'll give him an extra week. He'll play round three of the NAB Cup, whether in (the) regional (series) or in the NAB Cup."
Mitch Hahn is about a month behind Murphy in his rehabilitation.
"He's more likely to play his first game at Werribee probably early to mid-April, everything going well," Eade said.
Luke Darcy, who the club is nursing back from a second knee reconstruction, and young midfield gun Adam Cooney, still recovering from osteitis pubis, have not travelled to Canberra for the camp.
"It's just a matter of him being confident and ensuring that he's not getting referred pain when he runs," Eade said of the ruckman and former club captain. "His fitness base is pretty good, so we're hopefully he'll return in the next few weeks."
Ryan Hargrave and Peter Street, both recovering from ankle injuries, will miss Saturday's game. Jason Akermanis will play, making his Dogs debut on his 30th birthday. Former West Coast Eagle Andrew McDougall will play, as will Andrejs Everitt, the club's first 2006 national draft pick.
The Bulldogs will familiarise themselves with Manuka Oval, where they have played only one match for premiership points, tomorrow.