Footscray premiership captain Jordan Russell will lead the Bulldogs for a third consecutive year in 2017, with last year’s best and fairest winner having recommitted to the Club for the upcoming VFL season.
Russell is one of nine premiership players who re-signed during the offseason, the 30-year-old being joined by Anthony Barry, Lachlan Dalgleish, Alex Greenwood, Will Hayes, Nick Jamieson, Liam Nash, Jordan Staley and Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith.
Josh Wallis and Shaun Wyatt have also signed on.
Speaking to westernbulldogs.com.au, Footscray coach Steve Grace said that having experienced players around a young group is a key to their continued development.
“I think it’s crucial, Grace said.
“What you see is a changing of the guard and you don’t get that many older players playing, it’s very much a revolving door.
“So to have guys like (Russell) and ‘Bundy’ Barry out on the ground, to be able to coach their line out on the ground, is exactly what we were after.”
Grace filled a number of development coaching positions at Fremantle from 2011 to 2013 before moving to Collingwood in 2014 as Defence Development Coach, and then Assistant Coach – Forwards in 2015 and 2016.
He joined the Bulldogs in October, taking over the VFL coaching reigns from Ashely Hansen.
But Grace himself won’t be the only new face in Bulldogs colours when the side takes on Box Hill under lights at VU Whitten Oval in round one on April 14.
Among the new signees are 2014 premiership player Tom Young returning to the Kennel for a second stint after impressing in the NEAFL, and Jayden Foster, son of Peter, joining the Dogs after two years with Carlton.
Anthony Bruhn (Frankston YCW), Matt Goodyear (Collingwood), Billy Gowers (Carlton), Josh Patullo (Gippsland Power) and Nick De Steiger (Old Melbournians) have also joined the Club.
Grace will take over a side who claimed the 2016 premiership despite finishing fourth at the end of the home and away season.
“It’s an exciting proposition isn’t it,” he said of taking over a premiership winning side.
“It’s been an amazing start to join an organisation that has done remarkably well in a short period of time under Luke, and that is at VFL and AFL level.”
But as for how much of his own fingerprints will be on how the team plays, Grace says his focus will be on the continued development of the players.
“Look it’s an interesting question. I know Luke likes to support coaches who have their own ideas.
“[But] clearly the mantra of the VFL side is that our AFL-listed players are playing a like brand of football so when they step up they play a role, they play the exact same way that they are required, so it’s not really about me it’s about how well I can deliver the message and bring those players on.”
