Seven Bulldogs colts named in State 18s squad

SOUTH Fremantle's colts have made an outstanding start to the 2016 WAFL season and Shai Bolton, Tim English, Dylan Brown, Mitch Dzelebdzic, Kyle Russell, Chad Pearson and Jimmy Miller have been named in the initial 40-man State 18s squad.

The Bulldogs have won five of their first six colts matches to open the 2016 season under new coach Mark Foster with some new players coming into the group and making their mark, and those remaining from last year's team that fell agonisingly short of playing finals performing strongly.

There have been plenty of standout performances in the colts team to date and the Western Australia selectors have taken notice adding Bolton, English, Brown, Dzelebdzic, Russell, Pearson and Miller in their initial 40-man squad ahead of the 2016 NAB National 18s Championships.

Showing the unique mix of this group is their original clubs include metro locations Secret Harbour, Roleystone, Forrestdale and Bullcreek-Leeming and regional towns Exmouth and Brookton-Pingelly.

The selected group includes a trio of players who stand over 195cm tall with ruckman English standing at 203cm and forwards Dzelebdzic 196cm and Jimmy Miller at 195cm respectively highlighting the great size and skill that exists in the current South Fremantle colts group. 

English has been the standout ruckman in the colts competition so far in 2016 with the 18-year-old making the most of his first chance at colts football.

English is averaging 14.5 possessions, 4.7 marks and 25.3 hit outs a game with his strongest showing coming last Saturday against Subiaco where he had 18 disposals, eight marks and 24 hit outs.

His ability to win plenty of the ruck knocks, find the ball around the ground, take marks and move well for a big man are all making him a standout prospect.

Bolton is an excitement machine who has spent the majority of time in the forward-line with some stints on the ball. The 17-year-old has kicked nine goals in five games so far in 2016 while averaging 15.6 touches a match.

Dzelebdzic proved himself a strong goalkicker in the Bulldogs' colts last season with 31 goals in 17 matches, and he has improved further so far in 2016 with the 17-year-old from Roleystone having kicked 10 goals from five games.

He has averaged 13.4 possessions as well as kicking the 10 goals and at 196cm he is proving a strong marking target, but he's also dangerous when the ball hits the ground despite his big frame and strong build.

Russell got his first taste of playing colts last year playing four games and now the 18-year-old has stepped up further in 2016. He might only be small at 175cm, but he has displayed outstanding ball-winning form averaging 19 disposals across the six games so far.

Pearson cemented himself in South Fremantle's colts team in 2015 and has carried that on this season as a key defender. He has been in strong form and in the six games so far in 2016 he is 
Averaging 12.8 touches and 4.3 marks a game.

Miller got the one chance in the colts in 2015 and now the Exmouth product is putting together strong form as a key forward target this season. The 18-year-old has now kicked 10 goals from the six games in 2016 and continues to improve the more opportunities he receives.

Brown is proving to be one of the hardest working and biggest possession gathering midfielders in the colts competition. Following five colts matches in 2014 and six in 2015, he has emerged in 2016 with the 18-year-old from Exmouth having a standout opening six games.

He is averaging almost 24 possessions a game and has kicked six goals with his performance last Saturday against Subiaco showing his ability with 29 disposals, six marks and a goal.

They aren’t the only players who have stood out as well with Daniel Burke, Jarren Colpitts, Antionne Forrest-Yarran, Tere Teio-Yarran, Alex Robinson, Zane Sumich and Deng Maguang also having been among those to have been impressive in South Fremantle's colts' strong start to the season.

The colts can now look forward to a tantalising match-up this Saturday at the Claremont Showground against the reigning premier Tigers.