Mature-age VFL recruit Brett Goodes appears headed for an early season AFL debut after another assured performance for the Western Bulldogs in Round 2 of the NAB Cup.
Goodes was one of the standouts of this year’s crop of draftees from the Peter Jackson VFL in Round 2 of the pre-season competition , with an important contribution in the Bulldogs’ one-point win over Hawthorn on Friday night.
The former Williamstown and North Ballarat defender demonstrated why he was selected at the ripe old age of 29 with all of but one of his 12 possessions –all kicks – hitting the target.
The triple VFL premiership player also laid several strong bumps to prove he’s ready to become a permanent fixture in Brendan McCartney’s side.
Dean Towers, another former North Ballarat midfielder, is also eyeing an early season debut after a solid hit-out in Sydney’s loss to St Kilda.
The 22-year-old, a first round draft pick in the 2012 National Draft, was one of the Swans’ best in Round 1 and backed up that effort with nine possessions as the undermanned reigning premier fell 23 points shy of the Saints on Sunday.
Box Hill Hawks export Matt Jones also backed up a solid first appearance with 15 touches, seven of which were contested, in the Demons’ narrow win over Port Adelaide.
Jones, pick number 52 in last year’s National Draft, appears ready-made for the rigors of AFL football and the 25-year-old’s ferocious attack of the football seems to be impressing plenty at the Demons.
Collingwood’s trio of VFL recruits were in the thick of it as the Magpies accounted for the West Coast Eagles at Paterson Stadium.
Rookies Sam Dwyer, Kyle Martin and Jack Frost were all contributors as a young Magpies team showed their considerable depth in holding off a more experienced Eagles’ outfit.
Dwyer, a former Port Melbourne midfielder collected nine touches and finished with a goal, while Martin (Frankston) and Frost (Williamstown) finished with 11 and seven possessions respectively.
Last Modified on 06/03/2013 08:24