Lake Macquarie 2019 Season Preview

PRESIDENT PREVIEW
The 2019 season will be an interesting one for the Lake Macquarie Dockers. The men will need to blend a few older, bigger bodies with the dashing youngsters to be able to build some momentum in the plate competition and challenge for a playoff position.  The women’s team again have a very tough early season draw and will need to maintain spirit and courage to finish higher than lasts year’s position on the table. Both teams need to continue to build a strong club culture to ensure our promising junior players aspire to play senior footy with our club.

How’s Preseason going?
Preseason has been a little subdued but has started to lift now that the decision has been made to run with one team in the plate completion. Tom Croft is again the men’s coach but has been seen having a solid run at training with eye to getting a few kicks up forward. Women’s football seems to continue with a high player turnover leaving coach JJ (John Janissen) with a task to instill the basics to a whole new group.

Biggest surprise packet in 2019?
In the men’s team look out for two players returning from a 2018 decimated by injury. The first is Matt Wells who has played less than a handful of games last year after tearing a hamstring in the preseason game at Muswellbrook. The other is Clayton Beck who is moving well after a leg break that ended his season early.

Women’s second year player Brianna Trappett is expected to go on to bigger things after starring last year with 16 goals and nomination as best first year player. Team leader Carla Hill will again pole highly in the umpires votes.

MEN’S PLATE UPDATE
Plate captain Matt Mears says “The club decision to just field a plate team this season means there will now be an expectation of the playing group to perform at this level and challenge for the play offs.

Who is the team to beat in 2019?
City and Terrigal will again be the teams to beat as their club depths will ensure they have a number of players in plate each week pushing for cup selection.

WOMEN’S TEAM PROFILE
Comments courtesy of coach JJ (John Jannisen) and leadership group member Carla Hill.

We have had a good a pre-season on and off the field with great commitment from everyone. The club has had many joint sessions and events which has developed a good club culture. We look forward to having a strong season as a club in 2019. Go Dockers!

Who has been lighting up preseason/which player is the one to watch in 2019:
Maddie Klimovitch has got the safest hands in the team. Paige Bowes has been so committed and has been working hard this preseason on her skills.

Big Ins: Chelsea Fleming, Brianna Trappett, Hannah Olive
Big Outs: Emily Brandon (overseas), Maddy Foster (retired)

Who is the team to beat in 2019?
Singleton Roosters -They have the skills and running power