Skills in focus

DANDENONG REDLEGS senior coach Brendan Allen believes the hard work of recruiting and teambuilding over the last two years will finally pay off.
“We’re looking to improve on sixth place. The team has been building in the last couple of years since 2009,” Allen said.
New additions to the Redlegs include Chris Hatfield, returning to the club from Moama, Luke Barrie-Sewell and Brad Smith (Devon Meadows). Scott Murphy and Matthew Grassham have been named Redlegs co-captains.
Allen predicts a big season for forward Damien Busch, Jacob Moore on the half back line and midfielders Matthew Doggett and David Barrie.
The Redlegs play at Doveton in their round one match on 9 April.
THE ISSUES of 2010 won’t hamper Doveton this year, as incoming senior coach Paul Davis is keen to keep the club focussed on the future.
“I’ve contacted every player on the list to make sure they’re coming back, as some thought we might not have a team this year,” Davis said.
“We’ve pretty much got the same team as last year … so we’re expecting to be up the top again.”
New to the Eagles’ roster this year are returning player Sam Ferrari and Cam Vaness. Davis thinks 2011 will be a breakout year for midfielder Brayden Keown.
“He comes on better every year. A couple of years ago he finished second in the best-and-fairest and was third last year. He could go even better this year,” Davis said.
LYNDALE senior coach Kris Akers expects the Pumas’ new recruits to be among the best performers for the club this season.
“We picked up Glenn Krepp, Leigh and Jason Mead. Also got Trent McKenzie from St Kilda City,” Akers said.
Akers believes the fitness of utility Brian Grundy is crucial to the Pumas, as well as continued good performance from 2010 best-and-fairest winner Cal Stevens.
Akers says the team is consistent across the playing group and will improve upon last year’s result.
Lyndale play Sandown at Barry Powell Reserve on Saturday.
FINISHING second last in 2010 hasn’t dampened Sandown Cobras senior coach Mick Rossborough’s expectations for this year’s results.
“We’re definitely looking at finals. We just beat the Southern Dragons in a practice match by about 50 points and still had four blokes out,” Rossborough said.
New recruits include on-ballers Dan Macklin and Jake Chapman; forwards Aaron Woods, Daniel Ralph and Shane Cosstick; ruckman Dan Mulvogue and wingmen Luke Rossborough and Alex Chinery. The Cobras also picked up former Doveton full back Daniel Maskiell.
The 2010 best-and-fairest winner Jason Toan and Mick Robinson have been named Cobras co-captains for 2011.