Latest news 10/Feb/2010
With the Premier League seniors taking shape and already a 15 per cent increase on junior sign-ons, the Capalaba Bulldogs are roaring back for one of their best seasons in many years.
A number of juniors has still to sign up, so there are limited vacancies in the under 13, 14, and 15 age groups.
Rooball, the small-sided game aimed specifically to give the U6-U10 youngsters more fun and more ball-contact in their play has had a particular rise in numbers.
It has benefited from the highly successful Squirts program designed for three to five-year-olds as many of last year’s intake are now ready to play in the special U6 program.
Already more than 30 children, many of them brothers and sisters of older players, have joined up along with those little ones who just want to get to kick a ball with their friends.
The Squirts program is run on Saturday mornings to fit in with the standard junior fixtures, making things a bit easier for the taxi-cab parents.
The fields are in great shape with the help of the Redland City Council and a hard-working band of club volunteers.
Lighting has been upgraded, in part to cope with the increase in senior teams, with at least two Metro sides and one all-new women’s team.
Interest in women’s football is at a peak at Capalaba, and an extra girl’s side has been created to cater for a younger group.
The seniors take on Broadbeach, one of the leading Gold Coast Premier League clubs, in three matches on Saturday, kicking off at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm.
Pre-season injuries to key players will give the reserves a terrific opportunity to show their ability
Both Sherwood brothers are out of action, goal-scoring Josh for up to six weeks and defender Jake off with a knee injury.
Sean Curtis and mid-field terrier Scott Sargent are not expected to be fit until the start of fixtures, and some other players are doubtful, giving the reserves plenty of scope in the first side, making for an interesting encounter and giving fans a perfect opportunity to see the quality and depth of the squad.
In addition to the injury toll, the pre-season games have exposed a number of areas which need improvement, and coach Tim Brown will use Saturday’s matches to work on these.
Our defence still has some way to go, and we will be working on specific areas to improve this,’’ Brown said.
We should have hammered Toowoomba at the weekend but allowed them to pull off a 3-3 draw.
As many as nine key players were unavailable, adding to the coach’s problems.
Two of the players the firsts will be relying on up front this season, Greg Thomas and John Viney, scored at Toowoomba, and the powerful Danny Ngaluafe tucked away an effortless penalty.
Brown said injuries and pre-season commitments had made it difficult to create effective combinations, but he is confident the Bulldogs will be fully fit for the start of the season.
Alan Watson