The Coon Dog
17-07-2008, 03:55 AM
Injuries force McDougall to hang up boots (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24031906-19742,00.html)
Mark Stevens | July 17, 2008
ANDREW McDougall's chequered AFL career is over.
The 25-year-old quit the Western Bulldogs late last week after a meeting with club officials.
It was an amicable departure after McDougall returned from a break in Perth, his home city, to ponder his future.
McDougall, a back-up key defensive option, could not break into the strong Dogs line-up this year.
Several injuries have also held him back from being a regular player with Williamstown at VFL level.
Williamstown's list is so deep, McDougall was recently forced to make his comeback from injury in the VFL reserves.
It was a sad scenario for a talented player taken by West Coast at pick No. 5 overall in the 2000 national draft.
The Eagles rated McDougall so highly they took him 13 places above Daniel Kerr.
The Dogs secured McDougall in the 2006 trade period in a shuffle of mid-range draft picks.
Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia last night confirmed McDougall had questioned the worth of continuing his career.
"In his mind, he's retired," Fantasia said.
"He's been carrying injuries and it's been frustrating for him.
"Basically, he made a decision after speaking with the coaches that it was too hard for him. He had an open relationship with the coaches. There is no animosity at all."
It is believed McDougall was told he, like everybody else on the playing list, was still a chance to break into the senior line-up.
McDougall kicked 48 goals in 38 games with West Coast from 2001 to 2006. He was a Rising Star nominee in 2003.
After playing in last year's NAB Cup series and the first two home-and-away games, McDougall struggled to be a regular at the Bulldogs.
He managed only five games for the season and could not add to that total this year.
McDougall was always going to face an uphill battle to break into the team this season, with Scott Welsh being recruited from Adelaide as a forward and Andrejs Everitt and Tom Williams emerging as key defenders.
Mark Stevens | July 17, 2008
ANDREW McDougall's chequered AFL career is over.
The 25-year-old quit the Western Bulldogs late last week after a meeting with club officials.
It was an amicable departure after McDougall returned from a break in Perth, his home city, to ponder his future.
McDougall, a back-up key defensive option, could not break into the strong Dogs line-up this year.
Several injuries have also held him back from being a regular player with Williamstown at VFL level.
Williamstown's list is so deep, McDougall was recently forced to make his comeback from injury in the VFL reserves.
It was a sad scenario for a talented player taken by West Coast at pick No. 5 overall in the 2000 national draft.
The Eagles rated McDougall so highly they took him 13 places above Daniel Kerr.
The Dogs secured McDougall in the 2006 trade period in a shuffle of mid-range draft picks.
Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia last night confirmed McDougall had questioned the worth of continuing his career.
"In his mind, he's retired," Fantasia said.
"He's been carrying injuries and it's been frustrating for him.
"Basically, he made a decision after speaking with the coaches that it was too hard for him. He had an open relationship with the coaches. There is no animosity at all."
It is believed McDougall was told he, like everybody else on the playing list, was still a chance to break into the senior line-up.
McDougall kicked 48 goals in 38 games with West Coast from 2001 to 2006. He was a Rising Star nominee in 2003.
After playing in last year's NAB Cup series and the first two home-and-away games, McDougall struggled to be a regular at the Bulldogs.
He managed only five games for the season and could not add to that total this year.
McDougall was always going to face an uphill battle to break into the team this season, with Scott Welsh being recruited from Adelaide as a forward and Andrejs Everitt and Tom Williams emerging as key defenders.