NOBLE Park coach Mick Fogarty has labelled star forward Ziggy Alwan a chance to be the next Bull to move into the AFL.
Alwan has signed with VFL club Frankston Dolphins for season 2013 after a stellar 2012 Eastern Football League season.
Fogarty has long touted the athletic forward as an ideal “defensive forward” or “third forward” option at AFL level.
Alwan will look to follow in the footsteps of former Bulls Kyle Martin (Collingwood) and Tory Dickson (Western Bulldogs) who were taken in the past two AFL rookie drafts.
Fogarty said Alwan now had his opportunity to press his claims for the elite level.
“He has a real chance and I know he can do a job at the top level,” Fogarty said.
“Ziggy will take confidence from seeing what Kyle and Tory have done and now he has his chance.
“There are so many scouts around these days that if you play well someone will see you, someone will always see you and then you have to take your chance.”
Fogarty also praised Martin for earning his spot in the AFL at the AFL rookie draft last week.
“Everyone was ecstatic for him,” he said.
“He has landed at a club where he will get the opportunity to prove himself and if he does that he could well find himself in their senior side.”
Alwan and ruckman Glen Manson (travel) look to to be the only major losses to the Bulls for 2013 with the club having signed midfielder-forward Brett Dore (Nar Nar Goon), midfielder Luke Smith (Seaford), midfielder Daniel Keely (Port Melbourne) and ruckman Dean Cleven (Casey Scorpions).
Fogarty was just as excited about the improvement of several young Bulls who got the chance to play senior football last season along with the probable return of Tim Harper (travel) and Brett Scalzo (broken leg).
Scalzo returned to training last week after suffering a horrific broken leg during the Bulls’ fighting win over Balwyn last season.
“It was great to see Brett back and at training and he looked very good,” Fogarty said.
“Harper will give us a lot and we haven’t recruited as much as other years because we are more worried about playing our kids and giving them more opportunities.”
—Roy Ward
