Footscray 2016 season preview

The 2014 VFL premiers had a September nightmare last year, but a wealth of talented young Bulldogs should see Footscray in contention again in 2016

Coach: Ashley Hansen (second year)

2015 finish: 5th

2015 best and fairest placings: 1. Brent Prismall / 2. Nathan Hrovat / 3. Ayce Cordy

2015 leading goalkicker: Will Hayes (24)

Last premiership: 2014

Alignment: AFL standalone

Despite a top-four finish after the home-and-away rounds, reigning premier Footscray didn’t fire a shot in September. The Bulldogs bowed out of the finals in straight sets, losing to the Box Hill Hawks by 40 points then being humbled by 66 points at the hands of Essendon. However, there is plenty of cause for optimism in 2016.

The loss of Brent Prismall to suspension is significant. The 29-year-old is almost an on-field coach for the developing Western Bulldogs pups and claimed Footscray’s best and fairest award last year following a prolific season off half-back. Several AFL-listed regulars have been delisted and will also leave an experience void, including Ayce Cordy, Sam Darley and Brett Goodes.

The club’s leadership structure importantly remains intact though, with older heads Jordan Russell at the helm as captain once again and Mark Austin as vice-captain. In addition, former St Kilda rookie Jordan Staley joins the club after two years at North Ballarat, as does ball-winning half back Lauchlan Dalgleish, who spent three years on Essendon’s AFL list.

In terms of youth, many VFL-listed Bulldogs have recommitted to the cause. Small forward Will Hayes looks a star in the making, while the likes of Mitch Hannan, Nick Jamieson and Liam Nash are developing well. They’ll be joined this year by two TAC Cup graduates, classy midfielder Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith and half back Brad Olsson.

Senior coach Ash Hansen had the production line humming at Footscray in his first season in charge. AFL-listed youngsters were regularly able to step straight into Luke Beveridge’s finals-bound team in 2015, accustomed to the exciting high-disposal (ranked first in the VFL for disposals and uncontested possessions per game), high-scoring game style now synonymous with the Bulldogs organisation. Expect more of the same in 2016.

INS & OUTS:

Ins: Lauchlan Dalgleish (Essendon AFL), Brad Olsson (Gippsland Power), Jordan Staley (North Ballarat), Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith (Sandringham Dragons), Hugh Wales (Werribee), Simon Deery (Williamstown), Jordan Clarke, Fraser Dale, Giles Guest, Gabe Hamilton, Dale Hoghton, Mitch Palma, Nick Ryan, Andrew Sloan, Sam Willatt, Shawn Wyatt, Tyson Young

Outs: Darcy Fort (Centrals), Brent Prismall (Essendon suspension), David Iaccarino (Port Melbourne), Sam Boyd, Meyrick Buchanan, Michael Fogarty, Josh Huxtable, Mitch Jensen, Jordan Keras, Ben Morton

* Photo: Footscray captain Jordan Russell in action in 2015

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Footscray 2016 season preview

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