NEW-LOOK Warrnambool and District powerhouse Dennington hopes a rejuvenated senior side will be the catalyst in extending the club’s premiership window.
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The Dogs were hit early in pre-season with the loss of several key players to Hampden league clubs but have retained a nucleus of talent for the upcoming season.
The arrival of former North Warrnambool Eagle Tim Sheldon is expected to provide a boost, while the club has lodged clearances for his former teammate, Herb Barlow, and South Warrnambool big man Scott Nicolson.
First-year coach Jake Rhodes said the club was preparing for its first practice match hit-out against grand finalist Old Collegians this weekend, before locking horns with Terang Mortlake the following Wednesday.
“Initially we had Kurt Smith and Jordan Scott depart to Port Fairy, as well as Lee Evans and Hank Schlaghecke moving to the Hampden league,” he said.
“It’s great for them to go onto the Hampden league but it left a bit of a hole for us. We were really lucky to be able to bring in Tim (Sheldon) and also to have Ned Dalzeil cross from Cobden.
“(Ned) has been training really well and will add a bit of youth and leg speed around the stoppages.”
Rhodes admitted most of the Dogs’ training had focused on getting footballs in the hands of players in the early stages but was now expanding to cover game situations and structures.
He earmarked junior graduate Tom Fitzgerald as another contender for a senior place and said the Dogs would continue to vie for finals after five consecutive years in September.
“You’ve got to be positive to be competitive,” Rhodes said.
“We want to be finishing as high up as can be and once you get into finals, it’s a different ball game.
“We want to win early games to take the pressure off and to finish as high as possible.
“We’re right into our football base now and the season is creeping up quickly.”
Dennington will kick start its season against East Warrnambool on April Fools’ Day at Reid Oval.