High-flying Crows secure more talent

Updated June 01, 2012 11:54:34

The Adelaide Crows have continued their run of re-signing talent, with the announcements that Richard Douglas and Matt Jaensch have agreed to new contracts with the club.

Douglas, 25, who was recruited from the Calder Cannons in Victoria, has signed a three-season deal.

The midfielder was the number 16 pick in the 2005 AFL draft - he has played 98 senior games for the Crows and won Adelaide's best-and-fairest in 2010.

Jaensch, 22, has played 30 games for the Crows since being rookie-listed by the club at the end of 2009.

The South Australian footballer played with Sturt in the SANFL before being taken on the books.

He initially played as a forward, but has been moved into the backline this season under new coach Brenton Sanderson.

Jaensch has signed a new two-year contract with the Crows.

The news of the two re-signings follows the crucial agreement reached with star midfielder Patrick Dangerfield, who early this week ignored interest from a number of Victorian clubs to re-sign with Adelaide for another three years.

The announcements are a reflection of the club's excellent start to Sanderson's stint at West Lakes.

Adelaide won this year's preseason competition, beating West Coast in the final, and has backed up with a 7-2 record in the home-and-away round, placing them 3rd on the ladder on percentage, ahead of Collingwood.

Crows football operations general manager Phil Harper said the club was pleased the two players had re-committed to Adelaide.

"Richard has won a best-and-fairest but he is now entering the prime years of his football career, so we look forward to him continuing to being a key part of this new era under Brenton Sanderson," Harper said in a statement.

"Since his debut, Matthew has shown steady improvement. His pace and elite kicking skills make him an important member of our team, now and into the future."

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, adelaide-5000, west-lakes-5021, sa, australia

First posted June 01, 2012 11:31:17

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Giants vow to continue to tie down talent

Updated May 17, 2012 22:26:47

Greater Western Sydney chief executive Dave Matthews has fired the first shot in the club's battle to retain their young talent, re-signing five players until the end of 2015.

Dylan Shiel, Tom Bugg, Adam Tomlinson, Matt Buntine and Adam Kennedy all agreed on terms to stay with the competition newcomers for the next three seasons.

While all the talk is about GWS trying to lure star recruits to Sydney, the club will soon become the hunted when rivals swarm to sign up their prized talent on initial two-year draftee contracts.

Matthews is confident others are poised to follow Thursday's quintet.

"We have got a number of discussions progressing at the moment and we hope to have further announcements in the coming week," Matthews said.

"It's an absolute priority for us to secure the ongoing commitment of the young talent that we have."

It's testament to the club's welfare department that Shiel - a 19-year-old former Carlton supporter who studied at Caulfield Grammar, the same school Chris Judd attended - already feels like western Sydney is home.

"Our investment in welfare has been significant. Breakfast Point has been a great strategy, but the staff in and around the football department and the club have given these young players and their families great comfort," Matthews said.

Shiel, who was pre-listed by the club in 2010, suggested he wanted to be a one-club player.

"(Giants' sports science guru) John Quinn told me it takes about two years to get used to a new home," Shiel said.

"It definitely takes time, but this feels like home for me.

"(Friends in Melbourne) like to stir me up a little bit, but I've told them I'm very happy here and I plan to be a Giant for life."

GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said his club would continue to rotate draftees in and out of the team - to keep them fresh and spread experience evenly.

"We're trying to give players as many games as possible. We feel it will be great for their confidence and their belief," Sheedy said.

"We want 80 to 90 per cent of the list to get a game or more this year. That's a pretty good start ... whereas maybe if they were at another club, they might not have even played a game."

AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, sydney-2000, blacktown-2148

First posted May 17, 2012 17:54:46

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Sheedy casts eagle eye over NT footy talent

Tom Nightingale

Updated October 25, 2011 12:56:22

The AFL's newest club is looking to play a pre-season match in the Northern Territory.

Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy visited Alice Springs yesterday and says the club wants to play a match in Alice Springs or Darwin within the next three years.

The club has already listed Curtly Hampton from Alice Springs, and has a a priority recruiting zone across the Territory.

Sheedy also said the club was looking at eight Territory juniors as possible picks in next month's draft.

It has to select up to 14 more players in the national draft, in preparation for its first AFL season next year.

Sheedy said Top End player Jed Anderson is high in draft considerations.

He says the club is also looking at two Alice Springs players, Louis Egger and Gibson Turner.

"It seems to be that when the NT actually get one, they are gold, like the [Michael] Longs and, obviously, Andrew McLeod and [Cyril] Rioli," he said.

"They are terrific players.

"There is a lot of quality when the players do come out."

Tags: australian-football-league, sports-organisations, youth, alice-springs-0870, darwin-0800, sydney-2000

First posted October 25, 2011 12:56:22

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