Footscray

Congratulations to Robbie McComb winner of Footscrays Best and Fairest

From the Western Bulldogs Official Website

Gia to coach VFL side

BulldogsTV spoke to Daniel Giansiracusa, as he is announced as the 2019 head coach of the Western Bulldogs' VFL team.

Josh Prudden is among nine other players returning to the 'Scray in 2019. (Photo: AFL Media)

The Footscray Bulldogs have added further talent to its VFL list, recruiting eleven new players ahead of the 2019 VFL season.

Looking to add further experience to the VFL side, the Bulldogs have recruited former AFL listed players Nathan Drummond (Richmond), Ryan Gardner (Geelong) and Dillon Viojo-Rainbow (Carlton), alongside a talented crop of young recruits.

Taken at pick 52 in the 2014 national draft, Drummond arrives at the Club after four years at Richmond.  A talented and versatile midfielder, the 23-year-old was unfortunately hampered by injury during his time at the Tigers, but managed five senior appearances since 2015.

A developing key defender with the ability to swing forward, Gardner enjoyed an impressive 2018 season for Geelong’s VFL side, with a standout six-goal performance against the Northern Blues in Round 9.

Former Port Melbourne premiership defender Viojo-Rainbow will also wear the red, white and blue in 2019.  Selected by Carlton with pick 28 in the 2014 national draft, Viojo-Rainbow went on to play state league football with Port Melbourne for the past two seasons.

The Club has also recruited a talented group of young players, including Sam Barnett and Lachlan Farrugia, while St Kevin’s players Billy Kanakis and Gerard Gleeson arrive at the Club after back-to-back VAFA premierships.

Old Trinity midfielder Anthony Scott will also join the ‘Scray after being named runner-up in the 2018 VAFA Best and Fairest count.

The Club has also retained nine key players from the 2018 season, including co-captain Josh Prudden, Reuben William, Liam Nash, Josh Wallis, Robbie McComb, Brad Olsson, Tate Short, Lachlan Sullivan and Cody Henness.

Daniel Giansiracusa will take the coaching reigns at Footscray in 2019, with Steve Grace moving into an AFL line-coaching role.

To view the 2019 Hard Yakka/Totally Workwear VFL fixture, click here.

2019 Footscray VFL recruits:

Nathan Drummond

Ryan Gardner

Dillon Viojo-Rainbow

Anthony Scott

Gerard Gleeson

Billy Kanakis

Sam Barnett

Lachlan Farrugia

2019 Footscray VFL re-signings

Josh Prudden

Reuben William

Liam Nash

Josh Wallis

Robbie McComb

Brad Olsson

Tate Short

Lachlan Sullivan

Cody Henness

From The Age
Reported by Brent Diamond
Full article - Click here

Footscray players celebrate with the premeirship cup after winning the VFL grand final match against Box Hill on Sunday.

FOOTSCRAY BULLDOGS 4.2 7.4 10.7 16.13 (109) BOX HILL HAWKS 4.2 7.3 11.7 13.9 (87)
Goals: Footscray: L Jones 5, T Dickson 2, J Redpath 2, T Campbell, M Fogarty, J Grant, C Howard, D Pearce, J Tutt, T Young. Box Hill: J Sicily 3, M Hallahan 2, B Ross 2, S Collins, S Grimley, W Hartung, L Lowden, D Willsmore, A Woodward.
Best: Footscray: B Goodes, L Jong, L Jones, T Campbell, M Fogarty, S Darley. Box Hill: M Hallahan, J Sicily, W Hartung, A Litherland, B Ross, S Iles.
Norm Goss medal: B Goodes (Footscray).

Footscray won its first day flag of any type since 1954 with a 22-point victory over the Box Hill Hawks at Etihad Stadium in front of the biggest VFL grand final crowd in 25 years on Sunday.

For the success-starved Bulldogs supporters it was something of a long-awaited threepeat for the Bulldogs, given that they won back-to-back in 1923-24; the last time they were involved in the VFA, now the VFL.

And for Norm Goss Medal winner Brett Goodes, who collected 30 disposals, the win may also be family symmetry given that his brother Jake won his first senior flag with Stawell Swifts and his other brother, Adam, is hoping to cap off a hat-trick of their own with Sydney against Hawthorn on Saturday. "Hopefully the trifecta next week, no pressure Adam, but I'm sure he'll go all right," Goodes said.

Goodes helped engineered this win from his own boot in the opening term. He swooped on the loose ball, showing experience and patience and he nursed consecutive forward entries into his key forwards.