Targeted recruiting sees Bulldogs grow coming into 2014

PAUL Hasleby knew that entering his third season as coach of South Fremantle that players with size and versatility was what he needed, and he couldn’t be happier with what he has been able to attract to the Bulldogs for the 2014 season.

What became clear to Hasleby throughout the 2013 season was that South Fremantle was lacking some depth and quality in the big men department.

While Sean Tighe had a terrific season in the ruck in 2013, he had virtually no support in the ruck and the Bulldogs were also found wanting for size down back at times and certainly up forward Ben Saunders and Paul Mugambwa could use some more help from players taller than them.

When Tighe returned to Victoria in the off-season, then South Fremantle's need for some tall players was emphasised and the result has been the recruitment of James Sellar, Josh Pullman, Stephen Mills, Brock Higgins and Josh Branchi.

And now coming into Round 1 this Saturday against Subiaco at Leederville's Medibank Stadium, Pullman will hold down centre half-forward, Sellar will line-up in the ruck, Mills will take up a key defensive post and Higgins could play at either end while helping Sellar out in the ruck.

While South Fremantle's list of additions for 2014 does include players well short of key position size in the form of Ashton Hams, Steven Verrier and Haiden Schloithe, they are all Bulldogs products returning to the club after time in the AFL.

Hasleby made no secret that he was after players with size to add to the group for 2014.

"We specifically targeted tall players in our recruiting period and we didn’t bring in anyone under 194cm unless they were players originally from South Fremantle," Hasleby said.

"We have brought big Josh Branchi in, James Sellar, Stephen Mills and also Brock Higgins. Once we have all those guys up and running on top of what we already have it should be a dangerous combination with our talls if we move the ball the way we want, and give them a chance."

Not only does South Fremantle have plenty of options in the ruck for 2014 in the form of Sellar, Higgins, Alistair Gillespie, Myles Bolger and even Josh Branchi, the best thing that Hasleby likes about his big men is that they can also hold down a key position post and not just play in the ruck.

"I have always been a big fan of a ruckman having the ability to spread and becoming an extra midfielder. James Sellar has that ability and so does Brock Higgins from what I've seen of him," he said.

"We already know that Gillespie can do that as well so they all can move around the ground and give us more options and firepower. As a coach, all you want is options so if things aren’t going right you can pull a few moves and I will have plenty of those options this year."

Pullman might not be an option to spend too much time in the ruck, but the former Swan Districts colts premiership captain is as natural a centre half-forward as you are ever likely to find.

After playing 23 league games and kicking 31 goals for Swan Districts, including a bag of seven against Peel in 2010, he has spent the last three seasons in Queensland and when he decided to return to WA, the 24-year-old attracted attention from a number of WAFL clubs.

However, he chose South Fremantle and now is set to be a cornerstone of a forward-line that includes Saunders, Mugambwa, Hams, Kris Miller, Adam Guglielmana, Gillespie, Higgins, Sellar and John Sgherza at different times.

"He kicked 176 goals in the last three years over in the NEAFL and even though it's not quite as strong a competition, the thing I admire about him is that he competes," Hasleby said.

"From the moment he walked in I knew he had leadership written all over him and when he chose us, a big part of it was because of our strength and conditioning coach Mike Vega.

"That says to me that this guy loves the physical element and the pressure that is required to play at the WAFL level. With those other guys around him, we are looking forward to some good things around him."

Mills arrives at South Fremantle having spent time playing in the NEAFL the last couple of years including some time with the Gold Coast Suns reserves side, and he now adds some much-needed height to a Bulldogs defence anchored by Nick Borovac, Dylan Ross, Adam McIntosh and Craig White.

"Stephen played some reserves footy last year for Gold Coast so he played on some of the better players who weren’t getting a game for Sydney on occasions, so he comes with that experience. He is a nice size at 197cm, is very athletic and he's still young," he said.

"I think he has a big future at our footy club and possibly even the level above. It was strange the way we got him though. His brother went for a job upstairs in the bar and he asked if he could come over and train with us.

"At that stage, we were a bit light on height so we thought we would have a look at him. He has been good ever since. The one area that we haven’t quite nailed is the tall defender position and I thought that he, Brock Higgins and Stromy give us good cover there."

Hams, meanwhile, might not have the height of Sellar, Higgins or Mills, but having played 39 AFL games with the Eagles on top of 115 with South Fremantle, he very well could tear the competition apart in 2014 now that he is back full-time at Fremantle Oval.

"He makes a big difference to us Hamsy and in my opinion he is the best WAFL player in the competition," Hasleby said.

"We will give him every chance to play through the midfield this year, but the best thing about him is that he can go play as a tall forward where he can play one-out or as a small forward he will kick three or four.

"He's also stepping up as a vice-captain this year so that leadership role is a good challenge for him, and I'm sure he will do well with it."

Josh Branchi is another exciting new arrival to keep an eye out for with the 205cm big man having played just two colts games and two reserves matches with Peel Thunder over the last two years.

The 19-year-old had a good season with the Eaton Boomers last season and despite the lure of focusing on basketball in the SBL with the South West Slammers, he has joined South Fremantle for 2014 and is someone to keep an eye out for.

By Chris Pike