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JOINED LEAGUE: 1894 NICKNAME: BULLDOGS GROUND: TATURA PARK COACH: PAUL BARNARD PRESIDENT: JAMES PYKE PREMIERSHIPS: 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1952, 1953, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2012 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: W. PRITCHARD (1947), J. GREENWOOD (1969 and 1970), N. SMITH (1974), T.ESLER (1995) 2024 FINISH: 12TH (5-13) 2024 BEST-AND-FAIREST: MITCH ELLIOTT 2024 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: TIM WILSON (15)
PLAYER CHANGES
INS: Ben Darrou (Collegians), Jack Lefroy (Kangaroo Flat), Jack Sinclair (Tongala), Adam Enever (North Wangaratta), Cole Freeman, Liam Adams (Mooroopna), Michael Archer, Jayden Armstrong
OUTS: Ethan Penrith (Fitzroy Stars), Matt Ryan, Brad Ryan, Jacob Simpson, Jake Warren
Last season, Tatura was plagued by a dumbfounding injury crisis.
This season, the Bulldogs are gnashing their teeth with full force.
After the promise of a fruitful campaign spurred on by an after-the-siren winner against Seymour to kick off the 2024 tilt, Tatura rounded out in bottom due to a squad razing that, at times, had a full 18 scratched through injury.
Now healed and healthy, blue skies appear to be on the horizon according to returning Bulldogs boss Paul Barnard.
“Numbers have been terrific - most of our boys that are coming off long-term injuries and have now recovered, so we’re just getting the training load into them now,” he said.
“We’ve got a few young faces that progressed last year given the circumstances; they got 12-14 games into them now and they’ve all returned pretty well.
“From a training and cohesion perspective, we’re pretty positive and looking forward to hopefully a non-injury-riddled season.”
Knowing the danger of what a nightmare injury run can yield, Tatura has bolstered its list on both top and bottom ends.
Fireworks are expected out of highly-touted recruits Ben Darrou and Jack Lefroy, heading off a savvy list of ins compiled over the off-season.
Managing the outgoings has been crucial, too.
Silky defender Ethan Penrith heads back to Melbourne while Brad and Matt Ryan also depart alongside Lake Boga men Jacob Simpson and Jake Warren, but Barnard is confident Tatura has plugged the gaps - and then some.
“We’ve really got a length and depth through our recruiting which has been very specific,” he said.
“It’s an exciting year, but we’re not putting any ceilings on anyone.
“We’ve covered the losses and we’re getting some injured boys back so we’re pretty bullish about the year ahead.”
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