TonyK
CibbuanoDemons re-sign six
August 2nd 2008 01:28
MELBOURNE has strengthened its on-field future with the re-signing of six promising youngsters.
James Frawley, 19, Colin Garland, Nathan Jones and Ricky Petterd, all 20, and Matthew Bate and Michael Newton, both 21, have all signed two-year deals.
Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said the six players are a key part of the club's future.
"We've got a really good group of players around that age that we think are going to be the future of the club, and given some experience and opportunity they've all shown pieces of play that suggest there's a really good future," Bailey said.
"Bate and Jones came third and second respectively in the best-and-fairest last year. Col Garland has got a rising star this year, Newton took an outstanding mark last year as a forward, you've got Petterd who was almost revived at a game and might become a midfielder down the track and James Frawley has shown some class down back."
Meanwhile, Bailey said the future of veteran ruckman Jeff White, who hasn't been able to get back into the side since being dropped before round 14 was yet to be determined.
"We'll sit down with Jeff in the coming weeks and work out where his situation is from the club's point of view," he said.
"But Jeff White has been a professional player and an outstanding footballer in the AFL for a long period of time."
Bailey refused to guarantee that White would play again this season.
"It depends on his form. We've made the stance during the year that form's really important, particularly when we haven't had too many wins, so we'll stick with that recipe."
James Frawley, 19, Colin Garland, Nathan Jones and Ricky Petterd, all 20, and Matthew Bate and Michael Newton, both 21, have all signed two-year deals.
Melbourne coach Dean Bailey said the six players are a key part of the club's future.
"We've got a really good group of players around that age that we think are going to be the future of the club, and given some experience and opportunity they've all shown pieces of play that suggest there's a really good future," Bailey said.
"Bate and Jones came third and second respectively in the best-and-fairest last year. Col Garland has got a rising star this year, Newton took an outstanding mark last year as a forward, you've got Petterd who was almost revived at a game and might become a midfielder down the track and James Frawley has shown some class down back."
Meanwhile, Bailey said the future of veteran ruckman Jeff White, who hasn't been able to get back into the side since being dropped before round 14 was yet to be determined.
"We'll sit down with Jeff in the coming weeks and work out where his situation is from the club's point of view," he said.
"But Jeff White has been a professional player and an outstanding footballer in the AFL for a long period of time."
Bailey refused to guarantee that White would play again this season.
"It depends on his form. We've made the stance during the year that form's really important, particularly when we haven't had too many wins, so we'll stick with that recipe."
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