Finals are a goal

The Dogs finished sixth this season - just one spot outside the finals –  which was a considerable jump from the wooden spoon just a year earlier.

The injection of experienced players such as Daniel Bradshaw, Jarrod Twitt and 2011 best-and-fairest winner Josh Hicks added class to a group of committed young Dogs.

Add the fact that ruckman Matt Seiter had his best season in the Ovens and Murray, and Wodonga was up and about in 2015.

So let’s look at how the Dogs are shaping up for the 2016 season.

The Dogs have been active on the recruiting front, picking up several players from the Tallangatta league.

How they transition into regular Ovens and Murray senior players will be the deciding factor in their success.

Wodonga’s ‘prized scalp’ has been star midfielder Brett Doswell, who’s back at the kennel for the first time since the 2012 season as assistant coach.

The stoppage-winning midfielder won the VCFL Medal for being the best player on the ground in the Ovens and Murray’s crushing interleague win over the Hampden league in 2012.

And while Doswell’s another year older, the former Vic Country rep will have less off-field responsibility after spending the past three seasons in charge at Holbrook.

Another former Dog in Dylan Beattie also returns to the John Flower Oval.

Of the departures, Ben Hollands and Chris Macey have retired, and Zach Jones won’t travel back from Geelong.

Keeping most of the list together – that includes re-signing key players John Pratt and Josh and Jake Hicks - has been a key focus of coach Dean Harding.

Harding said he remained hopeful Bryce Garvey would also commit for 2016.

“He knows we love him and want him on board but he has to make his mind up,” Harding said.

“We need him and he’ll get opportunity.”

Wodonga’s had good numbers at pre-season training, with approximately 75 coming through the door at one stage or another.

Those to impress so far on the track include Joel Heiner, McKye Turner and Will Stefani.

“I think all up I think we’ve had about 75 at training and there’s some thirds kids in that,” Harding said.

“We are probably averaging 35-40 which we are pleased with that.

“And there’s a lot of optional sessions.”

But there won’t be too many ‘optional’ sessions if you’re a midfielder at Wodonga, because Harding has big expectations for that group.

“We are building a bit more depth in the midfield,” he said. 

“So when we use our rotations we are not losing anything.

“Last season showed us we needed high rotations.

“When we drop away from that high effort base we dropped away a fair bit.

“That’s where your depth comes into account.”

Wodonga has three practice matches scheduled in the New Year; against Corowa-Rutherglen, Wangaratta Rovers and Wangaratta Magpies.

Wodonga’s been handed a cushy start to the season.

The Dogs travel to Myrtleford to face the wooden spooners in round one, before more very winnable games against Corowa-Rutherglen and Wangaratta Rovers.

With matches against Wodonga Raiders, Lavington, Albury, North Albury and Wangaratta, Wodonga faces an interesting finish to the season, especially if it is still chasing a finals spot.

“The draw is what it is,” Harding said.

“We like going to Myrtleford at Easter and historically that’s a big crowd and a big game for Myrtleford.”

Finishing one spot outside the finals in 2015 would indicate Wodonga’s not far off the pace.

The Dogs were third on the ladder after five rounds, but faded in the second half of the season, losing their last four games.

Publicly, Harding is not making any grand statements about his 2016 expectations.

“We just want to continue to improve and provide some 100-game Ovens and Murray players,” he said.

“We want an environment where guys want to stay and that’s when we start talking about finals and going deep.

“We’re like everyone, we absolutely want to and probably feel with the work everyone puts into the place we deserve to (play finals).

“But so does nine other clubs.”

Wodonga should improve, but by how much is the million dollar question.

The Dogs’ fate also depends on the strength of the nine other clubs.

Losing Seiter for two weeks during the season because of an overseas trip won’t help, but if everything goes to plan the Dogs will be thereabouts come finals time.

Sixth.