Doona2
Cancelled
Top dog gone
Luke West
Saturday, 28 January 2006
PREMIERSHIP forward Jordan Barham has quit Gisborne to embark on a Victorian Football League career with Werribee.
Barham has spent the past two years with Gisborne, playing in the club's All Seasons Bendigo Football League premiership last season and losing grand final side to Sandhurst in 2004.
But he is moving on to pit his skills at a higher level with Werribee, who was beaten by Sandringham in last year's thrilling VFL grand final.
"We're rapt to get Jordan; we spoke to him last year, but he said he wanted to have a year playing footy with his brother," Werribee coach Simon Atkins said yesterday.
"He's coming off a fantastic season with Gisborne, and has the benefit of doing a pre-season with Melbourne behind him.
"He offers us height and mobility at either end of the ground and he has set a great example on the training track in the two weeks he has been training with us."
Barham has previously spent time on the Port Power and St Kilda rookie lists, and also spent the first part of the pre-season this summer with Melbourne, but was unsuccessful in being drafted.
Since he returned to Gisborne from Myrtleford in 2004, Barham has been one of the most difficult key forwards for opposition sides to match up on in the BFL.
Last year, he kicked 59 goals for the Bulldogs, including six hauls of five goals or more.
He kicked three in Gisborne's 31-point win against Eaglehawk in the grand final at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, but it could have been considerably more after he had 12 shots at goal.
Gisborne coach Marcus Barham - Jordan's brother - said the 194 cm athletic forward would be a loss, but his departure gives younger players at Gardiner Reserve an opportunity.
Matthew Knox - a Rositas Rising Star nominee in round two last year - is one player who looms as a potential replacement at full-forward.
In his debut senior game last season, Knox booted six goals against Maryborough in an encouraging performance.
Another possible full-forward for the Bulldogs is Richard White, who kicked five goals against Kangaroo Flat late in the season.
"We've got some good young players coming through who will get their opportunity, so we can't worry about it too much," Marcus said.
The Bulldogs have pre-season matches lined up against Sunshine and Sunbury, and the BFL lightning premiership on April 1.
Gisborne played in last year's Ballarat Football League lightning premiership, and Marcus says the club is looking forward to competing in the Bendigo Football League's version.
"It's a good concept and a good chance to see new recruits from other sides," Marcus said.
"We go out to win every game, but because it will be our last hit-out before the season starts and our side for round one won't be decided, we will be giving a few blokes a chance."
The Bulldogs' first game of the premiership season will be when they play Golden Square at Country Vet Oval on Sunday, April 16.
Meanwhile, South Bendigo's active recruiting campaign has continued, with the Bloods' luring Ryan Connaughton back to the club.
Connaughton spent last year with Goulburn Valley Football League club, Rochester.
"It's good to have Ryan back at the club," South Bendigo coach Danny O'Bree said.
"We might play him down back this year; I think he will enjoy the challenge of playing off a half-back flank."
The Bloods will be the first team to confront the BFL's newest club, North City, when they clash under lights at the QEO on Saturday, April 15.
South Bendigo finished third last year, beaten by Eaglehawk in the preliminary final.
Luke West
Saturday, 28 January 2006
PREMIERSHIP forward Jordan Barham has quit Gisborne to embark on a Victorian Football League career with Werribee.
Barham has spent the past two years with Gisborne, playing in the club's All Seasons Bendigo Football League premiership last season and losing grand final side to Sandhurst in 2004.
But he is moving on to pit his skills at a higher level with Werribee, who was beaten by Sandringham in last year's thrilling VFL grand final.
"We're rapt to get Jordan; we spoke to him last year, but he said he wanted to have a year playing footy with his brother," Werribee coach Simon Atkins said yesterday.
"He's coming off a fantastic season with Gisborne, and has the benefit of doing a pre-season with Melbourne behind him.
"He offers us height and mobility at either end of the ground and he has set a great example on the training track in the two weeks he has been training with us."
Barham has previously spent time on the Port Power and St Kilda rookie lists, and also spent the first part of the pre-season this summer with Melbourne, but was unsuccessful in being drafted.
Since he returned to Gisborne from Myrtleford in 2004, Barham has been one of the most difficult key forwards for opposition sides to match up on in the BFL.
Last year, he kicked 59 goals for the Bulldogs, including six hauls of five goals or more.
He kicked three in Gisborne's 31-point win against Eaglehawk in the grand final at the Queen Elizabeth Oval, but it could have been considerably more after he had 12 shots at goal.
Gisborne coach Marcus Barham - Jordan's brother - said the 194 cm athletic forward would be a loss, but his departure gives younger players at Gardiner Reserve an opportunity.
Matthew Knox - a Rositas Rising Star nominee in round two last year - is one player who looms as a potential replacement at full-forward.
In his debut senior game last season, Knox booted six goals against Maryborough in an encouraging performance.
Another possible full-forward for the Bulldogs is Richard White, who kicked five goals against Kangaroo Flat late in the season.
"We've got some good young players coming through who will get their opportunity, so we can't worry about it too much," Marcus said.
The Bulldogs have pre-season matches lined up against Sunshine and Sunbury, and the BFL lightning premiership on April 1.
Gisborne played in last year's Ballarat Football League lightning premiership, and Marcus says the club is looking forward to competing in the Bendigo Football League's version.
"It's a good concept and a good chance to see new recruits from other sides," Marcus said.
"We go out to win every game, but because it will be our last hit-out before the season starts and our side for round one won't be decided, we will be giving a few blokes a chance."
The Bulldogs' first game of the premiership season will be when they play Golden Square at Country Vet Oval on Sunday, April 16.
Meanwhile, South Bendigo's active recruiting campaign has continued, with the Bloods' luring Ryan Connaughton back to the club.
Connaughton spent last year with Goulburn Valley Football League club, Rochester.
"It's good to have Ryan back at the club," South Bendigo coach Danny O'Bree said.
"We might play him down back this year; I think he will enjoy the challenge of playing off a half-back flank."
The Bloods will be the first team to confront the BFL's newest club, North City, when they clash under lights at the QEO on Saturday, April 15.
South Bendigo finished third last year, beaten by Eaglehawk in the preliminary final.
