bornadog
15-10-2012, 06:06 PM
link (http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/western-bulldogs-to-rub-shoulders-with-top-english-soccer-clubs/story-e6frf9jf-1226495711721)
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa198/mmsalih/873461-ryan-griffen.jpg
WESTERN Bulldogs players will rub shoulders with the likes of European soccer champions Chelsea in London next month.
The Dogs take on Port Adelaide at The Oval on November 3, the first exhibition match in Britain since 2006.
But the club also will use the trip as a springboard to its 2013 pre-season and will take time to visit some of the world's biggest clubs.
Players and staff will tour the facilities of Chelsea, English Premier League champions Manchester City, another English giant, Liverpool, and Fulham, the home of Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
The Dogs also will link up with rugby union side Harlequins on the 14-day trip starting on October 30.
"We're trying to use the opportunity to educate the boys, but we're going to have some fun too," Western Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said.
"We're going to go and watch a game as well. On the first Sunday there's Queen's Park Rangers v Reading and Liverpool v Newcastle.
"Before and after we'll do the traditional sort of pre-season stuff. It's not going to be a sweat camp, boot camp-type thing, but we'll get on with the normal running, some weights and we'll get the balls out as well."
The entire Bulldogs squad will make the trip after returning from holidays.
Some players who had injury-interrupted seasons, including Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney, already have begun a pre-season of sorts at the Whitten Oval.
Cooney won't take on the Power, but Fantasia said some other Bulldog stars will be in the 24-strong side.
"Guys like Liam Picken, Luke Dahlhaus, those type of players will play," he said.
"It won't be a side made completely out of first-gamers or anything like that.
"Predominantly we'll play a young side and give those boys a run, but there will still be some recognisable experience in there as well."
Fantasia said new high-performance manager Graham Lowe, formerly of the Scottish international rugby team set-up, would link with the Bulldogs for the first time on the trip.
"Even though he's started with us, he won't meet the boys for the first time until we get to London," he said.
http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa198/mmsalih/873461-ryan-griffen.jpg
WESTERN Bulldogs players will rub shoulders with the likes of European soccer champions Chelsea in London next month.
The Dogs take on Port Adelaide at The Oval on November 3, the first exhibition match in Britain since 2006.
But the club also will use the trip as a springboard to its 2013 pre-season and will take time to visit some of the world's biggest clubs.
Players and staff will tour the facilities of Chelsea, English Premier League champions Manchester City, another English giant, Liverpool, and Fulham, the home of Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
The Dogs also will link up with rugby union side Harlequins on the 14-day trip starting on October 30.
"We're trying to use the opportunity to educate the boys, but we're going to have some fun too," Western Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said.
"We're going to go and watch a game as well. On the first Sunday there's Queen's Park Rangers v Reading and Liverpool v Newcastle.
"Before and after we'll do the traditional sort of pre-season stuff. It's not going to be a sweat camp, boot camp-type thing, but we'll get on with the normal running, some weights and we'll get the balls out as well."
The entire Bulldogs squad will make the trip after returning from holidays.
Some players who had injury-interrupted seasons, including Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney, already have begun a pre-season of sorts at the Whitten Oval.
Cooney won't take on the Power, but Fantasia said some other Bulldog stars will be in the 24-strong side.
"Guys like Liam Picken, Luke Dahlhaus, those type of players will play," he said.
"It won't be a side made completely out of first-gamers or anything like that.
"Predominantly we'll play a young side and give those boys a run, but there will still be some recognisable experience in there as well."
Fantasia said new high-performance manager Graham Lowe, formerly of the Scottish international rugby team set-up, would link with the Bulldogs for the first time on the trip.
"Even though he's started with us, he won't meet the boys for the first time until we get to London," he said.