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By Kim Hagdorn
NEW Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney has firmly declared the Dogs within close reach of winning a premiership.
He announced the Bulldogs playing list is healthy and still capable of achieving ultimate flag success as McCartney assumed his senior coaching position at Whitten Oval on Monday.
“Having worked against the club in the last 18 to 24 months, where they’re in a very good position to win a premiership,” McCartney said.
“So there’s a little bit of a refresh, there’s a rebuild.”
The new Doggies boss differed in a view from president David Smorgon when he announced a month ago the departure of senior coach Rodney Eade that the club needed to refresh the playing list.
But McCartney revealed plans to refresh the Dogs as well as build on the playing abilities from brilliant young stars Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis and even identifies improvement for hardened veterans Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross.
Boyd and Cross have agreed to terms of new contracts after weeks of negotiations with Dogs officials, with popular 213-game veteran Daniel Giansiracusa sill in protracted discussions on a new deal.
“Does every player on the Western Bulldogs have room for improvement? Yeh we do,” McCartney said.
“Do we continue to develop the coaching program? Yes we do.
“So our first and second year players have different challenges in front of them to the 200-game players.
“But ultimately they’re all looking to add one, two, three things to their playing capacity and their personality each year.
“So it’s very much a (refreshing and rebuilding) combination.”
A clearly humbled McCartney, expressed appreciation to his close association with Geelong and the Bombers dual premiership coach Mark Thompson and Essendon first-year coach James Hird.
McCartney won the Dogs appointment on high recommendation from two-times Cats premiership captain Tom Harley who was on the Bulldogs coaching selection panel.
“I go in knowing full well and looking forward to the challenge and knowing the responsibilities that present to a senior coach,” McCartney said.
“As a person left with the responsibility to help mould a coaching group and a player group and it is something I really look forward to.
“I can’t wait to get my teeth into it actually.
“I was very, very glad to be approached.
“I wanted to coach the Western Bulldogs.
“I’m honoured to be coaching this club.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to meet the players and the staff and help them to get to a realisation point where the success we have for our members and fans will be relied on them to be prepared to play their role.
“To be really clear about their responsibilities to the team and to the club.”
NEW Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney has firmly declared the Dogs within close reach of winning a premiership.
He announced the Bulldogs playing list is healthy and still capable of achieving ultimate flag success as McCartney assumed his senior coaching position at Whitten Oval on Monday.
“Having worked against the club in the last 18 to 24 months, where they’re in a very good position to win a premiership,” McCartney said.
“So there’s a little bit of a refresh, there’s a rebuild.”
The new Doggies boss differed in a view from president David Smorgon when he announced a month ago the departure of senior coach Rodney Eade that the club needed to refresh the playing list.
But McCartney revealed plans to refresh the Dogs as well as build on the playing abilities from brilliant young stars Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis and even identifies improvement for hardened veterans Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross.
Boyd and Cross have agreed to terms of new contracts after weeks of negotiations with Dogs officials, with popular 213-game veteran Daniel Giansiracusa sill in protracted discussions on a new deal.
“Does every player on the Western Bulldogs have room for improvement? Yeh we do,” McCartney said.
“Do we continue to develop the coaching program? Yes we do.
“So our first and second year players have different challenges in front of them to the 200-game players.
“But ultimately they’re all looking to add one, two, three things to their playing capacity and their personality each year.
“So it’s very much a (refreshing and rebuilding) combination.”
A clearly humbled McCartney, expressed appreciation to his close association with Geelong and the Bombers dual premiership coach Mark Thompson and Essendon first-year coach James Hird.
McCartney won the Dogs appointment on high recommendation from two-times Cats premiership captain Tom Harley who was on the Bulldogs coaching selection panel.
“I go in knowing full well and looking forward to the challenge and knowing the responsibilities that present to a senior coach,” McCartney said.
“As a person left with the responsibility to help mould a coaching group and a player group and it is something I really look forward to.
“I can’t wait to get my teeth into it actually.
“I was very, very glad to be approached.
“I wanted to coach the Western Bulldogs.
“I’m honoured to be coaching this club.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to meet the players and the staff and help them to get to a realisation point where the success we have for our members and fans will be relied on them to be prepared to play their role.
“To be really clear about their responsibilities to the team and to the club.”
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