Hockey, Edwards, Matera making mark already with Bulldogs

Adding a hard-nosed, tough and experienced midfielder was high on South Fremantle’s shopping list ahead of the 2016 WAFL season and that’s exactly what Shane Hockey provides with Jordan Matera and Steven Edwards providing plenty of talent and excitement to the Bulldogs squad as well.

South Fremantle’s midfield has plenty of natural ball winners of high quality with the likes of Ashton Hams, Haiden Schloithe, Tim Kelly and Ryan Cook but one area that coach Todd Curley felt needed strengthening was a tough, tenacious in and under midfielder.

Hockey had earned a reputation as a tough-as-nails ball winner in the VFL with Frankston where he was captain up until the end of 2015.

But when the Bulldogs came calling and made him an offer to make the move west, he jumped at the opportunity.

Curley couldn’t be more delighted with how he is now shaping up on the eve of the season opener against West Perth at Fremantle Oval on Saturday March 19.

“He has settled in really well. He is a good fella and he’s been here a few times in the past couple of years anyway because he has some really good mates here. He has settled in really well and he’s a solid midfielder who has played inside mid his whole life,” Curley said.

“We don’t have a lot of experience in that area so we spoke to him about coming over to have an impact, but also to teach the good group of core mids that we have. We think he can help them and he’s been fantastic so far.”

Another recruit for the 2016 season at South Fremantle is Steven Edwards.

The 20-year-old played seven of his eight league matches at Claremont in 2014 but couldn’t break through at the Tigers in 2015 managing just 17 reserves appearances.

However, with pace and skill, and tremendous natural ability, when the prospect arose of recruiting him Curley was quick to make sure South Fremantle secured his services.

It just happened to work well for both clubs with Dylan Ross ken to make a return to Claremont.

“Certainly on the track he looks exciting and hasn’t missed a beat since he’s been here. He has trained hard and he hasn’t said much, but he just does the work,” he said.

“He will get every opportunity like all our boys will and hopefully it works out as a win-win for both clubs with the trade we made for Dylan Ross.”

The Bulldogs will also welcome Jordan Matera for the 2016 season.

The son of South Fremantle product and West Australian and Australian Football Hall of Fame member Peter wanted to return home to Perth and once that was decided, he was never going to play in the WAFL anywhere else but at the Bulldogs.

Curley played against his famous father plenty back in the 1990s and early 2000s, but has already noticed that Jordan is looking to make his own mark as a player and isn’t riding on the coat tails of his dad.

“The thing that has stood out with Jordy since he’s been here has been his work ethic. He just works super hard,” he said.

“He has been impressive and he is probably a little bit of a different player to his dad, but he’s pretty keen to make his own mark.”

It’s difficult to go through any full pre-season campaign with only good news and that has unfortunately again been the case for the Bulldogs coming into the 2016 season.

Cory Dell’Olio returned to South Fremantle in 2015 after his time with Essendon and the 2009 premiership player was gearing up for a strong 2016 where he would bring up his 100th WAFL game.

However, it was that time at the Bombers that came back to bite when he was one of the 34 past and current Essendon players suspended for all of 2016.

Then just a week before the Bulldogs played their first intra-club hit out, emerging leader Jarrod Parry suffered a cruel blow injuring his knee at training and requiring the third reconstruction of his career, but first on his right knee.

Curley certainly feels for both Dell’Olio and Parry but is confident both will be back for the start of the 2017 season.

“Cory being suspended is really disappointing. Obviously he’s been letdown there and unfortunately he has to miss a year of footy, which is pretty tough. We’ll just support him the best way we can,” Curley said.

“Jarrod is a devastating loss for the club and the player group. He is such a fantastic young leader who hasn’t had much luck in the past. It was a really innocuous incident so for him to do his knee and miss the year is devastating.

“He has had the reconstruction already and we will support him the best way we can and another of our young blokes will have to stand up.”