bornadog
26-01-2018, 12:53 PM
written by Anthony Colangelo (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/katie-brennan-fit-and-firing-ahead-of-newlook-western-bulldogs-2018-aflw-campaign-20180125-h0omtj)
The Western Bulldogs will attack the 2018 AFLW season with a refreshed game plan, a renewed emphasis on team unity and most importantly, a fit and firing star Katie Brennan.
Brennan 2017's campaign was cruelled by injury but she has been restored as captain for 2018. She told Fairfax Media at the club's season launch that she'd "knocked at least a minute off my two-kilometre time trial" during pre-season.
The 25-year-old forward injured her ankle on the eve of the 2017 season and only played two games for the Bulldogs. Her injury woes threatened to continue into the 2017 VFLW season but she put those behind her to kick an equal competition-high 35 goals for the campaign.
Brennan said that on top of her increased fitness, she and her teammates had been working "relentlessly" on improving their skills so they could adapt to a game plan that would emphasise kicking the ball more often and with more potency.
"We've been getting the hours in," Brennan said. "It's perfect practice, too, doing it with intensity. We have seen a great rate of development and we will see improvement through the year."
Coach Paul Groves said the focus on kicking was the hallmark of a completely overhauled football program from 2017.
"We've transformed everything from our program from last year," Groves said. "From every lesson that we've learnt in terms of game plan and a real massive focus on the fundamental skills of footy.
"You're going to see a very different game plan roll out. We're hoping to kick the ball a lot more, last year we over-handballed it a fair bit … [in 2018 we will] try and maintain possession and we think we have got the best forward line in the competition so if we get it down their pretty quick we have some players who can kicked a good score."
In 2018 Brennan will be supported by the same leadership group as 2017 – Ellie Blackburn (vice-captain), Hannah Scott and Nicole Callinan.
Scott said working on improving their skills had taught the team that there was "value in sticking to the processes we have been going through. It takes dedication and belief."
Both Scott and Brennan revealed the group had participated in a number of candid bonding sessions in the pre-season that had resulted in players sharing their "vulnerabilities" with one another.
"We tried some different things," Brennan said. "You can have a look at the success of the Western Bulldogs [men's team], of Richmond and how they went about football.
"It wasn't just a strategic plan it was more about creating an environment where girls felt valued, were connected and creating a really supportive environment because AFL women's is tough. It is tough on a lot of young women who have to carry man different roles in like – study, work and football – and it's about support each other first."
Scott added: "It wasn't just one session, but there's also been little things happening here and there, just off players' own accord, where you end up opening up and I think it's shown a lot of respect within the group and a lot of trust. In football you can't put a price on that."
The Bulldogs will open their AFLW campaign against Fremantle on Sunday week at the Whitten Oval.
Brennan's side won the corresponding fixture last year, and with the Dockers making a racquet about their round-two match at Optus Stadium against Collingwood, the Bulldogs are quietly confident of catching Fremantle napping in round one.
They're also confident about their chances for the rest of the season, with Groves describing his forward line as the best in the competition, one that could help his side contend with Carlton, who are considered to have the best list in the competition following aggressive off-season recruiting.
The Bulldogs feel their goal-kicking accuracy, over-use of the football by hand and inefficient forward 50 entries cost them dearly at important times in 2017, ultimately falling to a sixth place finish.
However the Bulldogs had two of the top four picks in the 2018 AFLW draft. They selected forward Isabel Huntington with pick No.1 and midfielder Monique Conti with pick No.4.
Conti was absent at the season launch because she was at the Melbourne Boomers' presentation evening. The dual-sport whizz kid played in the Boomers WNBL finals series loss to the Townsville Fire and the Bulldogs can't wait to have her all to themselves for the AFLW season.
The Western Bulldogs will attack the 2018 AFLW season with a refreshed game plan, a renewed emphasis on team unity and most importantly, a fit and firing star Katie Brennan.
Brennan 2017's campaign was cruelled by injury but she has been restored as captain for 2018. She told Fairfax Media at the club's season launch that she'd "knocked at least a minute off my two-kilometre time trial" during pre-season.
The 25-year-old forward injured her ankle on the eve of the 2017 season and only played two games for the Bulldogs. Her injury woes threatened to continue into the 2017 VFLW season but she put those behind her to kick an equal competition-high 35 goals for the campaign.
Brennan said that on top of her increased fitness, she and her teammates had been working "relentlessly" on improving their skills so they could adapt to a game plan that would emphasise kicking the ball more often and with more potency.
"We've been getting the hours in," Brennan said. "It's perfect practice, too, doing it with intensity. We have seen a great rate of development and we will see improvement through the year."
Coach Paul Groves said the focus on kicking was the hallmark of a completely overhauled football program from 2017.
"We've transformed everything from our program from last year," Groves said. "From every lesson that we've learnt in terms of game plan and a real massive focus on the fundamental skills of footy.
"You're going to see a very different game plan roll out. We're hoping to kick the ball a lot more, last year we over-handballed it a fair bit … [in 2018 we will] try and maintain possession and we think we have got the best forward line in the competition so if we get it down their pretty quick we have some players who can kicked a good score."
In 2018 Brennan will be supported by the same leadership group as 2017 – Ellie Blackburn (vice-captain), Hannah Scott and Nicole Callinan.
Scott said working on improving their skills had taught the team that there was "value in sticking to the processes we have been going through. It takes dedication and belief."
Both Scott and Brennan revealed the group had participated in a number of candid bonding sessions in the pre-season that had resulted in players sharing their "vulnerabilities" with one another.
"We tried some different things," Brennan said. "You can have a look at the success of the Western Bulldogs [men's team], of Richmond and how they went about football.
"It wasn't just a strategic plan it was more about creating an environment where girls felt valued, were connected and creating a really supportive environment because AFL women's is tough. It is tough on a lot of young women who have to carry man different roles in like – study, work and football – and it's about support each other first."
Scott added: "It wasn't just one session, but there's also been little things happening here and there, just off players' own accord, where you end up opening up and I think it's shown a lot of respect within the group and a lot of trust. In football you can't put a price on that."
The Bulldogs will open their AFLW campaign against Fremantle on Sunday week at the Whitten Oval.
Brennan's side won the corresponding fixture last year, and with the Dockers making a racquet about their round-two match at Optus Stadium against Collingwood, the Bulldogs are quietly confident of catching Fremantle napping in round one.
They're also confident about their chances for the rest of the season, with Groves describing his forward line as the best in the competition, one that could help his side contend with Carlton, who are considered to have the best list in the competition following aggressive off-season recruiting.
The Bulldogs feel their goal-kicking accuracy, over-use of the football by hand and inefficient forward 50 entries cost them dearly at important times in 2017, ultimately falling to a sixth place finish.
However the Bulldogs had two of the top four picks in the 2018 AFLW draft. They selected forward Isabel Huntington with pick No.1 and midfielder Monique Conti with pick No.4.
Conti was absent at the season launch because she was at the Melbourne Boomers' presentation evening. The dual-sport whizz kid played in the Boomers WNBL finals series loss to the Townsville Fire and the Bulldogs can't wait to have her all to themselves for the AFLW season.