WEST Adelaide is looking to keep games within its own control according to coach Bruce Dawes as the Bloods eye off continuing their development, with hopefully a touch more luck on the injury front. While star talent Iilish Ross was unfortunately a casualty to the dreaded anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear over the preseason, Dawes has otherwise said the list health is in good order.

“She’ll (Ross) be out for the duration of the season, so that’s certainly a loss for us because she’s such a strong member of our team and well held amongst the group,” Dawes said. “That will be one we have to try and fill, but beyond that our preseason has been really solid, We’ve been rapt with the way all the girls have approached it, there’s a real good positive feel amongst the girls.”

While not yet tasting finals action in his tenure, Dawes is preparing for the third year in his plan when he came to the club less than a week out from Round 1.

“I just feel we’ve slowly built and that was always the plan, it was always the three-year plan of build, educate and all of that we’ve been able to do,” he said. “Now we’re definitely feeling confident, why wouldn’t we? Everyone’s confident this time of year.

“But I just think we’re just moving along at the right direction, and hopefully finals is something that we can look to get into and then you never know where things go from there.”

A total of 28 players from last year’s top 30 have returned to the club over the off-season, and Dawes has been pleased with the amount of personal bests being recorded on the track for preseason testing. The focus turns from the preseason to the real stuff now and the West Adelaide coach said it was about continuing the foundations the Bloods have built over the past two seasons.

“We want to be able to control the speed of the game, we want to be able to use our skills, hit our targets and keep executing good decisions under pressure,” Dawes said. “That’s been our focus now for three years and I think that as I said right at the start, we’ve all been about trying to get that stable, consistent base with our players, with our coaches and we’ve been able to do that, and like I said I just feel like we’re moving in the right direction at the moment, we’re absolutely keen and definitely pushing to play finals.”

BRUCE DAWES ON…

TOP-AGE STATE ACADEMY MEMBERS

Chloe Tonkin

“She’ll play probably more forward and then do chop outs in the ruck. She’s had a really good strong preseason and got herself fit and strong and where we’ve found her to be beneficial is just her contested marking. She’s really been on there and as I said before, she’s strong and just able to make space for herself and take a good strong mark. She’s been really good, definitely keen to see what she brings for us this year.”

Lucy Waye

“To her credit she finished off the season really well last year. Got her opportunity in the League squad and played the last half dozen games in the League where she was able to bring that speed that you just can’t teach. Her skills have been really good and again I think the taste of playing League football last year, she was another one who worked really hard in the off-season so she came back really fit, really keen and so she’s been a massive asset for us and she’ll play a lot of League football for us as that forward/mid role.”

Gracie Sim

“She’s one who you could almost say the slow burn. She’s constantly improved, she’s a real thinker of the game and so again she’s one that’s worked really hard in preseason and we’ve had our two trials over the last couple of weeks where she’s played in the backline for us in the League and she’s produced some really good football, like I said she’s a real good thinker, she executes and uses her skill well and her contested stuff is awesome as well. Really rapt for Gracie to be given that opportunity.”

Steph Tredwell

“Steph has had a long recovery from her OP (osteitis pubis), but is working her way back into footy nicely. She will again play up forward for us and are looking forward to her taking contested marks and hitting the scoreboard. Steph just needs to play footy, get her touch back and force her way back into the State squad.”

BOTTOM-AGE STAR

Emily Mableson

“She’s well an truly established and just a great kid to boot. You talk about the old coach’s dream, she’s right up there. She’s the first one to message me ‘Bruce what time can we sit down and watch vision?’ so she’s always striving to get better. She’s the one that’s out on the oval doing all the extras before training starts with her skills and you can just see the way she puts into the game what you’ve just tried to give her that bit of feedback.

“She’s really come on again this year. I reckon there’s a very good chance she’ll play some midfield minutes as well. Last year we just played her off half-back but after our couple of trials and we gave her an opportunity in the midfield and she was fantastic there as well. There’s a very good chance she’ll roll through the midfield at times for us as well. That’s pretty big for a kid that’s just 16.”

OTHER YOUNG GUNS

Chelsea Newitt

“A girl who’s come through our junior program and she’s been fantastic again she’s played two trials with us in the League and has handled herself pretty well. She’s adjusted to the speed of the game well. She’s very composed under pressure, makes good decisions and executes her skills really well, so she’s been fantastic.”

Sarah Deed

“She’s one that’s just got this natural flair for footy. You’re really not sure what she’s going to do next as she can take hangars, she executes her skills really well and she’s just got that football talent about her that’s really exciting.”

MATURE-AGE PRESEASON PERFORMERS

“We’ve got a few because again there’s a whole group of them who worked really hard in the off-season. Emma Kilpatrick‘s one. I think she was unlucky not to get drafted, she’s just worked so hard in the off-season, and her first two trials have been great for us. Ruby Ballard‘s another one who missed out on getting drafted, and certainly hasn’t come back with a negative mindset about football because her preseason has been great. In her first two trials she was excellent.

“Then the stalwarts in Zoe Venning, three-time best and fairest winner, hasn’t rested on her laurels, she’s been working super hard in her fitness department and her skills and she’s really taken on a leadership role with us this year which is really exciting because she’s always shied away from that a little bit so that’s great that she’s been involved.

“Hannah Button‘s been fantastic and again has taken on some leadership responsibilities and she was a natural leader around our club anyway so she’s been fantastic. Another one Liv Smith who again cemented her spot in the team last year, but has just constantly worked hard on her fitness and her game and she again is ready to potentially have that burst out season this year.”