Shepp News |
Premiership player Chris Ryan is set to bolster Tatura’s defensive stocks at senior level in as soon as two weeks’ time.
Ryan has played the past two rounds at reserves level for the reigning premier Bulldogs as he works his way back to peak match fitness after an overseas trip.
He swung between key forward and defensive posts under former Tatura coach Steve Daniel last season.
New Bulldogs mentor Scott Grigg said Ryan would be a backline fixture in the senior side on his return.
‘‘Chris went overseas and only got back on the Friday before we played Shepp United (in round six),’’ Grigg said.
‘‘We didn’t know what date he would be back and it was a matter of him judging his money.
‘‘He’ll be back in (the seniors) once he’s physically fit and understands what we do and we’ll slot him in the backline.’’
Grigg said Ryan would most likely play on the opposition’s tallest forward, rather than the likes of Tom Durward.
Durward went head-to-head with Mooroopna’s Daniel Lewis on Saturday.
‘‘We exposed (Ryan) on the ball today to try to blow him up (fitness-wise),’’ he said.
‘‘We’ll lock him down in defence and he will help free up Durward, who won’t have to play on the six-foot-fours anymore.’’
Grigg’s defence is the stingiest in the Goulburn Valley Football League through seven rounds.
The Bulldogs are the only side to have conceded fewer than 400 points and are giving up an average of 64.83 points a game.
They are not quite at the stellar levels of last year’s team, which coughed up a frugal 55.33 per contest.
‘‘We’ve got a back seven and they work pretty well together and have an uncanny knack of knowing where each other are,’’ Grigg said.
‘‘Even if the ball is on the ground we find someone who can run away.
‘‘We are shorter than most forward lines .
‘‘Jayden Young and Tom Durward are the same and even blokes like James Fraser and Brett Nankervis are starting to contribute on a regular basis.’’
Grigg said he was also pleased with the success of Tim Lanyon’s move from the wing to defence.
‘‘Tim runs and carries and his ball use is really good,’’ he said.
‘‘We have some tough decisions coming up in the future, because we’ve got five blokes who’ll come into the side at some stage.’’
Alex O’Reilly (back), Billy Lovel (wrist), Leigh Owen (hamstring) and Ben Waite and Brendon Hollow (both calf) are on Tatura’s injury list.
