South Adelaide 2012

IN: Tom McNamara (Melbourne / Returning), Justin Bollenhagen (Fremantle / returned), Tim Houlihan (West Coast Eagles), Mitch Bosley (SHOC / Glenelg), Ben Casley (GWS), Cam De Visser (SHOC / Glenelg), Ben Dowdell (Mini Draft – Crows), Todd Pfeiffer (North Adelaide) Tom Redden (Keith / Glenelg), Xavier Watson (Port Magpies), Daniel Bass (Port Power)

OUT: Brent Macloed (Vic), Mitch Sandery (Retired), Adam Cockshell (Retired), Nathan Lyons (Vic), Andrew Horne (Vic), Dean Brogan (GWS), James Turner, Andrew Carter, Daniel Trevena, Steve Woods

Think that our ins just shade our outs at the present point in time, Sandery, Horne and Lyons are probably the biggest losses from the list, Cockshell was a serviceable player but in recent times has not been able to recapture his early form at the club. Turner showed patches of really good footy but struggled often, Carter, Trevena and Woods were on the fringe of the league list and Brogan had not played for the club in several years, my mail is that Neil Sharpe recruiting manager may have some more names to add to the list depending on how a couple of lads go who are trying out for a place on the league list. Ex SAFC player Denis Iljecsen is trying hard for a spot as are two lads cut from WWT.

With the ins, we can add Jacob Crate and Josh Thewlis both of whom return from the long term injured list and did not feature in our side last season. Crate is just as exciting a player as the like of Bollenhagen and McNamara and will do well for the club IMO. Thewlis is a more mature player with a more mature body which we are sadly lacking at South, his inclusion on the list will be a strong step forward for us. Bass has work to do, but its good to see that despite being cut from Port Power that he is sticking with us and keeping on trying, I do think he will be a much improved player this season.

Last season we won less than 50% of our matches and made the five because of other sides losing. My expectation is that we are good enough to make the five under our own steam and good enough to win finals matches when challenged. We beat Glenelg in our first finals match this season and lost to WWT who went on to win the Premiership. I get the impression that we are developing depth to our list and I feel that year three of the five year plan should see significant improvement.

If you can bring a winning culture back to Noarlunga, then the Panthers will do very well IMO. It's just that everybody at the club has to believe in themselves.

Ben , you couldn't class Bass as an in as he played last year for you. Also wasn't it Thewlis that got injured in a final last season?

Good summary . I think you should do this for all clubs ifyou have the time.

Sturt2 wrote:Ben , you couldn't class Bass as an in as he played last year for you. Also wasn't it Thewlis that got injured in a final last season?

Good summary . I think you should do this for all clubs ifyou have the time.

I certainly will S2, but will do a few at a time, don't want to spam up the board to much!

Ben, i think at this stage, on paper anyway our INS far out weigh our OUTS. We have certainly recruited well in my opinion, and really added to our depth, something we have lacked for a lon time.
Mcnamara and Bollenhagen are only young but have been hardened by the afl experience and will be invaluable. The return of Crate and O'Keefe after missing most of last year will be a real bonus.
Unlike most I feel we wont miss Cocky all that much, he showed glimpses last year, but that is what he has done most of his career. he looked unfit, lazy and disinterested at times last season.

south are looking decent so far wouldnt be surprised to seem them playing finals again this season