THE 2022 SEASON

The Barton wrote:Does anyone know what Dylan Clarke has decided to do with his Footy this year?

This from Andrew Capel on Twitter

Hearing delisted Bombers midfielder Dylan Clarke is poised to sign for @SANFL premier @EAGLESWWTFC. Would be a great recruit and nice replacement for Magarey Medallist James Tsitas, who has joined

A good signing by the Eagles.

Brilliant news indeed - when the Club identifies a player they really want we generally get them these days. Wasn't the case back in Ronnie's days and Godden's to a lesser extent. I think Norwood need to find a new Coffee Shop - CIBO on The Parade isn't working for them !

wimpy wrote:A good signing by the Eagles.

Have the club announced it yet haven’t got the email saying we have yet

It’s offical on the Eagles website now

The Woodville West Torrens Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of hard running midfielder Dylan Clarke.

After being delisted at the end of the 2021 season by Essendon, Clarke continued to train with the club up until recently with the hope of being resigning through the Pre-Season Supplementary Selection period. The 23-year-old has spent the previous five seasons at Essendon, playing 24 AFL matches after being drafted from the Eastern Ranges.

CEO Luke Powell said on Clarke’s signing, “We are delighted to have Dylan commit to the Club. To be able to attract a player of Dylan’s calibre so close to the season is a great result for all parties. Dylan is a person of tremendous character who will fit in to our culture really well and I know he is looking forward to having a great season.”

On joining the Club Clarke said, “I’m really excited to be joining such a great Club in the Eagles. The playing group have been fantastic in welcoming me in to the Club. I was attracted by the prospect of being coached by Sheeds and I’m really looking forward to help the Club succeed.”

Please join us in welcoming Dylan to the Woodville West Torrens Football Club.

Fantastic new. Now a tall marking forward please .

goddy11 wrote:Fantastic new. Now a tall marking forward please .

I agree Goddy

I believe he we arrive Friday and play in their trial match on Saturday at Elizabeth.

Well done, yet again, Luke Powell and the recruiting team - also helps when we have a coach that potential recruits want to play under.

To Goddy's comment above "........ now we want a tall marking forward". Ballenden, 200cm, key forward, B & F for Brisbane reserves. Was looking very good at training (till injured) so again, well done to Luke and recruiters.
I reckon Riley Knight would be relieved - as our only 30 disposal type midfielder, he was going to cop the opposition's tagger each week but Dylan Clark will divide their attention. And with Kobe Mutch and Joe Sinor we have as good a midfield as most (and better than all midfields if Lonergan could improve his ëngine").

A selection of a team Vs Centrals from the "availables" list put out by WWTFC could be:

FF     Lukac             D Menzel           Goldsworthy

HF    T Menzel            Firns              Comitogianni

C      Pudney              Mutch            Beecken

HB     Allmond           Lehman         Rowland

FB       Litster           Thompson        Duval

1st Ruck    Redden , Clark, Sinor
2nd Ruck   Guilhaus, Lonergan, MacFarlane

Res   Guilhaus, Lonergan, Sinor, Williams  

For the 1st game 3 weeks away, hoping Cameron, Knight are fit. Then Cameron replaces Lukac in forward pocket, Knight replaces MacFarlane as an onballer with MacFarlane replacing Williams on the bench.
When Ballenden is fit (3rd game), he plays Full forward/F Pocket/ relief Ruck, Cameron to the bench and Guilhaus is dropped.

( Lukac doesn't look ready for league footy yet but may get a lot of play time this Saturday)

Agree, the football department behind the scenes have been exceptional with their recruiting over the past few years. I wonder if Powell gets any tips from his old mate Mark McKenzie, who now heads up recruiting at Hawthorn? I’d imagine McKenzie would be all over the various prospects for a number of years and might be able to pass on some feedback on various players who they may have tracked.

Couzner, by reports, has been extremely valuable to the Eagles, with his Job Recruitment Company helping our recruits.

Aerie wrote:Agree, the football department behind the scenes have been exceptional with their recruiting over the past few years. I wonder if Powell gets any tips from his old mate Mark McKenzie, who now heads up recruiting at Hawthorn? I’d imagine McKenzie would be all over the various prospects for a number of years and might be able to pass on some feedback on various players who they may have tracked.

During past seasons I've see Mark McKenzie and Luke Powell catch up at Oval Avenue while watching the Eagles play.....a very handy contact to have.

Dave Couzner is a gun to have on the board and he delivers results. The Club has certainly got a lot of things right

Bomber lands at Eagles
ANDREW CAPEL
SANFL premier Woodville- West Torrens has pulled off a recruiting coup, beating a
host of clubs for the signature of delisted Essendon midfielder Dylan Clarke.
Clarke, who trained with the Bombers until last month in the hope of being thrown
an AFL lifeline in the pre-season supplemental selection period, will be an excellent
replacement for Magarey medallist James Tsitas, who has joined Gold Coast.
“The fact that we have been able to get someone who is an elite runner, an in-andunder player who is really good at contested footy, is going to balance our side off
really well,” Eagles chief executive Luke Powell said.
“You are never really going to completely cover for the loss of a Magarey medallist
like James but getting Dylan will go a long way towards softening the blow.
“He’s a terrific kid, which is one thing that stood out, and we are really excited to
have him and are looking forward to seeing what he can produce.”
Clarke, 23, (pictured) was keenly sought by numerous SANFL and VFL clubs.
One of the reasons he chose the Eagles – apart from them being a power club which
is chasing a club-first three-peat of premierships – is his friendship with former
Bombers midfield teammate Kobe Mutch.
Mutch joined the Eagles last year and played in their flag side, starring in the grand
final.
“His connection with Kobe definitely helped us get him,”
Powell said

This is a link that was mentioned on SAFooy. The trials are free to watch, and you do not need to sign up, just simply click the link below. "i hope"

https://www.sanflnow.com.au/men-s-trial-matches/season:1/videos/cdfc-v-wwtfc-trial-match-12-march

Just thinking the Eagles have got almost every position covered (albeit Ballenden injured and misses the first 2 games) EXCEPT the small forward role. Accepting that no-one comes close to Stengle and James Rowe, it's difficult to find someone with that speed, crumbing ability and kicking craft - Goldsworthy and MacFarlane would be my choices? Your suggestions?
Bad luck that 2020 Eagles Premiership player Sam Lowson didn't give us another season - checked the Coburg FC site and he is still playing very good footy in 2022 trials. Pacy, elusive, strong small forward.

Last night at training Clarke was paired with Kobe Mutch in the warm ups. Clarke a lefty, about 6'1'' and lean, looked excited about having new team mates to help forge his career. When introduced he received a great ovation from the players.

If possible, can anyone update the scores.

goddy11 wrote:If possible, can anyone update the scores.

Very hard to do not showing on the game . Wish we’d updated the players numbers on the website so we can see whose who c

Not surprising Jack has made it.

NEW SAINT Jack Hayes has emerged as a surprise potential round one debutant less than a fortnight after the SANFL star was added to St Kilda's rookie list.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/719062/sanfl-star-in-line-for-surprise-saints-debut-veteran-big-man-still-struggling

Although not this year, but I suspect/hope that James Rowe will be back with us next year. He seems to have fallen down the list of small forwards at the Crows. If he is stuck with Crows SANFL, he may as well be back with us.

whybother wrote:Although not this year, but I suspect/hope that James Rowe will be back with us next year. He seems to have fallen down the list of small forwards at the Crows. If he is stuck with Crows SANFL, he may as well be back with us.

He might be delisted next year but if he still gets a contract with the crows he would be on a lot more money than with us

whybother wrote:Although not this year, but I suspect/hope that James Rowe will be back with us next year. He seems to have fallen down the list of small forwards at the Crows. If he is stuck with Crows SANFL, he may as well be back with us.

I think the pay scale would be significantly different for an AFL player playing in the SANFL than a SANFL player playing in the SANFL.
But, would love to have Rowey back.

Ballenden, Clarke, D. & T. Menzel from Eagles in power top up squad.