At full charge

By Jarrod Potter
NOBLE PARK has strengthened its reigning premiership team with many high calibre recruits, including former AFL player Beau Dowler.
Dowler, who played 16 games for Hawthorn from 2005 to 2009, decided to play for Noble Park after getting delisted by the Hawks over the off-season.
“Beau wasn’t prepared to play at VFL level and wanted to play local footy,” senior coach Mick Fogerty said. “He played juniors at Noble Park so coming back was a perfect fit.”
The Bulls have recruited heavily during the offseason, with new talent joining an already impressive list. 2008 SFL best-and-fairest for Cheltenham and former Sandringham Dragon Ewen McKenzie joins the team in addition to Tom Paterakis (Sandringham), Luke Mann (Croydon), Tim Harper (Knox) and Daniel Galante (Gembrook).
Trent Robertson returns from a productive year in London playing in an AFL British premiership with the West London Wildcats.
From their 2010 team, Fogerty predicts stand-out performances from a number of the club’s talented players. “I’m expecting big years from Nick Williams, Kyle Martin, Ziggy Alwan and Shane Allen,” Fogerty said.
The up-and-coming talent for Noble Park is also top-notch with many under-18 players pushing for selection. “The best of our under-18 players, looking for selection soon, would be Luke Bull, Lionel Benoit and Mark Wilkinson.”
Even with these additions, Fogerty doesn’t want to get carried away with thoughts of another premiership.
“I don’t want to talk about premierships too early, but I’d like to think we are thereabouts this year again,” Fogerty said.
Noble Park plays its round one season opener away at South Croydon. The Bulls will unveil the 2010 EFL premiership flag before their first home game on 16 April.