December 18, 2007
Courtesy of Leader Newspapers
PORT Melbourne gained its first significant signature for the 2008 VFL season when former Brisbane and Carlton big man Dylan McLaren put pen to paper last Tuesday.
PORT Melbourne gained its first significant signature for the 2008 VFL season when former Brisbane and Carlton big man Dylan McLaren put pen to paper last Tuesday.
With David Fanning, McLaren will give the Boroughs an imposing ruck combination.
The 25-year-old told Port coach Gary Ayres that he wanted to play in a successful side. "It's always positive to hear that," Ayres said last Wednesday.
"It tells you he's got his head right. He's fairly clear about what he wants to do and how he can contribute. He wants to play a major part in taking the club forward."
McLaren's friendship with another former Blue, Luke Livingston, influenced his decision to join the Boroughs.
The 196cm right-footer is coming off two years at Carlton where he played 13 games, all of them in 2006. He joined the Blues after 46 senior appearances for the Brisbane Lions between 2001-2005.
Ayres said that while McLaren would ease the load on Fanning, who carried the ruck division with only occasional help last season, he could also play in attack.
"He has gone forward and played as a key forward, and he's also been able to drift forward as a ruckman and unsettle the opposition because he's very strong overhead," he said.
"The other thing that will be invaluable is his size. OK, he might not be 200cm but he's got that experience at the stoppages and he knows how to use his body."
Meanwhile Ayres believes Port has a group of young players ready to blossom in senior ranks.
He named Steve Gilham, Dean Francis, Brad Sutcliffe, Sam Dwyer, Rees Thomas and Natt Nixon as players who should be aiming to go to the next level.
