Club
UTS Bats
Key players
Mr Reliable, Josh Maddox will again be key in his second season with the Bats. He was clearly the Best and Fairest player for the club in 2014 but will need considerable help if they are to be finals contenders. Michael May will need to lift and improve on his 21 goal haul as a key position forward. Adam Baker was a surprise packet as a small forward kicking 38 goals. It will be a bonus if he could conjure up similar figures this year.
Star on the Rise
Hard to say given the lack of juniors at the club but my spies tell me Heath Mitchell is in line for more appearances in Premier Division this year. A quick player suited to the wing with his run and carry, he was Best on Ground in the Division Four Grand Final. The 24 year-old played three Premier Division games late last year and has looked at home in practice matches so far this year.
Strengths
You definitely couldn’t accuse the Bats of being small physically. They play well within their limitations and generally enjoy the contested situations. Last year, they struggled to keep the ball in close but have experienced generals in Scott Tregoning, Maddox and Tom Sundberg who play predominantly in the middle third. If they can add some class to this list, they should win more games this year.
Weaknesses
Their disposal efficiency would have been amongst the worst in the competition last year. They struggled with link-up play and this needs to be a close focus for new coach, Nic Fosdike. Players like Heath Mitchell will be crucial given their lack of run on the outside.
Season defining month
July is an important month in some religions and it could prove to be for the Bats as well. In Rounds 11-14, they are the road twice to arch-rivals UNSW/ES and the ever-strong Manly-Warringah who gave them a fair touch up last year. You will get to see what they are made of in those two encounters and also at home against Western Suburbs and East Coast Eagles- both of whom are highly rated.
Notable Transfers
Normally a big player on the transfer market, there hasn’t been much activity to date for the Bats. The biggest in would be James Howard who would be familiar to many in AFL Sydney circles. The flashy forward who came onto the scene with Balmain in their halcyon year in 2012, the 21 year old has continued to flourish with Sydney University, playing 10 games in the NEAFL and bagging 38 goals across all grades in 2014. Daniel Breese is an unknown quantity coming from Heathmont where he played 3rd Division in the strong Eastern Football League. Before that, however, he played six seasons of seniors with Lilydale averaging two goals a game over his 54 matches.
Their biggest loss has been Mark Trewhella (WA) who only managed three Premier Division matches last season.
Danny Says
9th
The wooden spoon last year was not acceptable for the Bats and they have instigated change with Fosdike brought in as coach. The Bats’ faithful hope he can have the midas touch that he had on Balmain in those glory days alongside Howard, and even before that when he was among the best Sydney Swans in their Grand Final win over West Coast in 2005. This will be his biggest test yet with his white collar brigade that has yet to make finals since their promotion to the top grade. They have a mountain to climb if they are to get close to September action.
Last Modified on 01/04/2015 11:37
