by Grimmett » Thu Mar 09, 2006 1:34 pm
CATS BOOST STOCK
4 March2006
Hamilton Spectator
By By MICHAEL HOWARD
THE pieces are falling into place for Casterton Football Club, with coach Gareth Abrahamson confirming several key signings who are expected to form the Cats' core in 2006.
The signing of school teachers and return of promising young prospects have inflated the Cats' stocks, which will bring a considerably new look to the table in 2006.
The new faces and first-year senior coach have brought a fresh approach to the club, which is enjoying improved numbers at training and is bubbling after a successful "boot camp" at Ballarat.
The latter, held at Pax Hill Scout Group, attracted 20 Cats, a response that Abrahamson described as "reasonable".
"We were happy with that, but a little disappointed that we didn't get more numbers," he said.
"It was a similar training camp to the one conducted by North Ballarat Rebels.
"We were involved for two days in what was a boot camp style. It centred on exercises, sprints and team building. It was good.
"There was a lot of fitness work and team building activities, stuff like climbing timber structures without letting go of each other."
The success of that camp is a further extension of a promising pre-season for the Island Park boys.
"Training numbers have been good," Abrahamson said. "We are regularly getting 30s at training with a further four to five footballers in the Rebels squad.
"The signs are positive."
Clearly, morale is high, which has been boosted by several new recruits committing to the club's cause.
Notable among the Cats' signings is the addition of Dylan Kent, a likely centre half-forward who has joined from West Adelaide, having also spent time with Southern Districts in Northern Territory Football League.
"He is a young guy who was a local and is returning home," Abrahamson said.
"He has played some higher level football and is returning to the area for work.
"He's quite tall, six foot three, and is a developing player."
Abrahamson hopes that Kent will develop into a likely centre half-forward, with the latter no doubt certain to benefit from playing beside the Cats' new coach, who has been one of Western Border's most prolific goal scorers in recent times.
It is a similar story for Nathan Reeves, who is also expected to settle near goals.
"He is a shorter type player, about five foot nine.
"He is working in town as a butcher and, like Kent, is a returning local.
"He is fairly fit and only young and will take on the role of a leading forward."
Importantly, Casterton's recruits also promise to inject greater leadership into the Cats.
Principally, this will come from school teachers Grant Luscombe and Shawn Taylor and veteran recruit Adam Galpin.
Both Luscombe and Taylor have aligned with the Cats after stints in Ballarat Football League, where Luscombe represented East Point.
"Grant is a physical education teacher at Casterton Secondary College," Abrahamson said. "He is very fit and is a hard-running player.
"He has been taking a couple of sessions himself, and will likely play off half-back with mid-distance running his strength."
Taylor is listed as more a utility type, but has quickly made an impression.
"He is extremely fit also. He has played in the Ballarat league and with Port Fairy as well.
"He is also a good leader and could play anywhere, being about six-foot tall."
It is expected that Galpin, who last season played for Bell Post Hill in Geelong and District Football League, will boost the Cats' spine, with the veteran tipped to take the pressure off the likes of Baden Dodd and Adrian Meyer in defence.
"He is not only a good size, about six foot, but he is a reasonably strong fella and is experienced," Galpin said. "He will most likely hold down a key defensive post."
In addition, the Cats' reliance on youth will also be prominent.
Of the up and coming types, Luke Robinson, who played in the Rebels' trial game at the weekend, Dylan Ryan and Josh Norris are all expected to take strides, with Abrahamson noting that Norris was particularly good at the camp.
With a practice match against Horsham Saints at Casterton on March 26 just around the corner, the signs are good.
"I'm a bit excited about it," the coach said. "Once we have our first practice match that will sort a few of them out.
"In the meantime, we will continue training three nights a week."
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