The Coon Dog
24-06-2008, 08:34 AM
Dogs tied to kennel (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23912687-19742,00.html)
Mark Stevens | June 24, 2008
Ryan Griffen - 2 yrs
Robert Murphy - 3 yrs
Daniel Cross - 3 yrs
Matthew Boyd - 3 yrs
Dale Morris - 3 yrs
Brad Johnson - 1 yr
Daniel Giansiracusa - 3 yrs
Josh Hill - 2 yrs
THE Western Bulldogs have slammed the kennel door on potential raiders, signing eight key players to new deals.
Exciting midfielder Ryan Griffen has agreed to a two-year extension, killing off any hope the South Australian clubs had of luring him home next season.
And the Dogs, now equal-second favourite for the flag, have also re-signed the core of their leadership group.
All-Australian contender Robert Murphy has re-committed to the Dogs until at least the end of 2011.
Midfielders Daniel Cross and Matthew Boyd have also signed for another three years.
Defender Dale Morris has gone from promoted rookie to valuable commodity with a new three-year deal.
Veteran skipper Brad Johnson has signed a new one-year arrangement.
Daniel Giansiracusa, considered a strong candidate to eventually replace Johnson, is the latest to agree to terms.
Although Giansiracusa is yet to officially put pen to paper to complete a new three-year contract, it is a formality.
Rising Star nominee Josh Hill has also been tied up to a new two-year extension.
Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said last night the raft of signings underlined the commitment to the cause under coach Rodney Eade.
"It speaks volumes for the football club," Fantasia said.
"We have a group of young men who are aware of the climate and are all really keen to commit to each other."
Fantasia confirmed the club would be paying close to 100 per cent of the cap to ensure the emerging group remained together.
Johnson, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Boyd, Cross and Morris are part of the Dogs' seven-player leadership group.
Seven-time best-and-fairest winner Scott West is the only leadership group player yet to be put in the "definite" class for 2009.
West wants to go on and will be out to prove his worth when he returns from a knee injury, possibly within a fortnight.
The Dogs, who have lost just one of 13 games in their best start to a season, have been keen to shore up their list knowing the arrival of the Gold Coast team is on the horizon.
They have been working quietly in recent months on locking away a host of players coming out of contract.
Adam Cooney, the No. 1 draft pick in 2003 and Brownlow Medal second favourite,
re-signed last year and has committed to the Whitten Oval until at least the end of 2010.
Griffen, the No. 3 pick in 2004, was an obvious target for Port Adelaide and Adelaide, but is now settled at the Dogs.
Negotiations started in early April after Griffen produced breakthrough performances in the opening two rounds.
"I'm very happy in Melbourne. I'm really comfortable. The club's been great and now we've got this amazing new training facility," Griffen told the Herald Sun in April.
Murphy, another strong contender to be the next captain, will be 29 by the time he comes out of contract again.
The fresh commitment means he will almost certainly be a Dog for life.
Although the Dogs have ticked off eight key players, Fantasia said the work was not finished.
"There's still half a dozen players we have made contact with or are about to make contact with," he said.
Mark Stevens | June 24, 2008
Ryan Griffen - 2 yrs
Robert Murphy - 3 yrs
Daniel Cross - 3 yrs
Matthew Boyd - 3 yrs
Dale Morris - 3 yrs
Brad Johnson - 1 yr
Daniel Giansiracusa - 3 yrs
Josh Hill - 2 yrs
THE Western Bulldogs have slammed the kennel door on potential raiders, signing eight key players to new deals.
Exciting midfielder Ryan Griffen has agreed to a two-year extension, killing off any hope the South Australian clubs had of luring him home next season.
And the Dogs, now equal-second favourite for the flag, have also re-signed the core of their leadership group.
All-Australian contender Robert Murphy has re-committed to the Dogs until at least the end of 2011.
Midfielders Daniel Cross and Matthew Boyd have also signed for another three years.
Defender Dale Morris has gone from promoted rookie to valuable commodity with a new three-year deal.
Veteran skipper Brad Johnson has signed a new one-year arrangement.
Daniel Giansiracusa, considered a strong candidate to eventually replace Johnson, is the latest to agree to terms.
Although Giansiracusa is yet to officially put pen to paper to complete a new three-year contract, it is a formality.
Rising Star nominee Josh Hill has also been tied up to a new two-year extension.
Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said last night the raft of signings underlined the commitment to the cause under coach Rodney Eade.
"It speaks volumes for the football club," Fantasia said.
"We have a group of young men who are aware of the climate and are all really keen to commit to each other."
Fantasia confirmed the club would be paying close to 100 per cent of the cap to ensure the emerging group remained together.
Johnson, Giansiracusa, Murphy, Boyd, Cross and Morris are part of the Dogs' seven-player leadership group.
Seven-time best-and-fairest winner Scott West is the only leadership group player yet to be put in the "definite" class for 2009.
West wants to go on and will be out to prove his worth when he returns from a knee injury, possibly within a fortnight.
The Dogs, who have lost just one of 13 games in their best start to a season, have been keen to shore up their list knowing the arrival of the Gold Coast team is on the horizon.
They have been working quietly in recent months on locking away a host of players coming out of contract.
Adam Cooney, the No. 1 draft pick in 2003 and Brownlow Medal second favourite,
re-signed last year and has committed to the Whitten Oval until at least the end of 2010.
Griffen, the No. 3 pick in 2004, was an obvious target for Port Adelaide and Adelaide, but is now settled at the Dogs.
Negotiations started in early April after Griffen produced breakthrough performances in the opening two rounds.
"I'm very happy in Melbourne. I'm really comfortable. The club's been great and now we've got this amazing new training facility," Griffen told the Herald Sun in April.
Murphy, another strong contender to be the next captain, will be 29 by the time he comes out of contract again.
The fresh commitment means he will almost certainly be a Dog for life.
Although the Dogs have ticked off eight key players, Fantasia said the work was not finished.
"There's still half a dozen players we have made contact with or are about to make contact with," he said.