58 SPORT SUNDAY OCTOBER 9 2016 Dockers’ shining light Neale goes to next level with Doig win

JORDAN McARDLE sence of injured senior players premiers last year to 16th with 2014 and 2015. He finished the The six-time Last season’s Doig medal- and Aaron Sandi- just four wins. season strongly, collecting 30 winner was in fourth spot with list, ruckman Aaron Sandi- GUN midfielder lands to win his first best-and- The 23-year-old, who possessions in each of the final 118 votes, narrowly ahead of lands, won best clubman for was an unsurprising victor of fairest award. signed a three-year contract four games to edge out livewire defender (116) who his off-field efforts with the last night’s Doig Medal count Breaking the league’s dis- extension during the season, (152 votes). rounded out the top five. playing group during his long at Crown Perth’s Grand Ball- posals record with 737 in 22 finished with 200 votes, 30 Despite missing four games Three players likely to leave injury lay-off. room. games, Neale was a shining clear of speedster Stephen Hill. during the season, retiring the club – , Hay- Emerging midfielder Lachie The South Australian took light in an otherwise disap- It was also a career-best fin- champion den Ballantyne and Michael Weller won the Beacon Award his game to another level in pointing season for the Dock- ish for Hill, improving on his made the top five for the first Barlow – were sixth, seventh for best first or second year 2016, standing up in the ab- ers, who went from minor consecutive third-placings in time since 2012. and eighth respectively. player. Bowes set to live the dream with Suns

GREG DAVIS

THE life-long dream is be- coming very real for Queens- land’s Jack Bowes. The Cairns junior and Academy product is one of 80 hopefuls attending the AFL’s Draft Combine in Melbourne where the next batch of young guns have their skills and physical capabilities tested every which way as well as meeting with club repre- sentatives. Bowes was always going to find himself at the four-day meat market given he has been christened the ‘Rolls Royce’ midfielder in the 2016 draft which will be held in Sydney on November 25. He has starred for the Queensland under 18s, the Al- lies under 18s and the Gold Coast NEAFL side in 2016 when he also collected the best player for the division two na- tional carnival and was the premiership captain will be sidelined for four months following major ankle surgery Picture: COLLEEN PETCH only Queenslander in the All- Australian under 18 side. The 188cm-tall Bowes was also chosen for the NAB under 18 All Stars match on grand final eve in Melbourne and had 23 silky possessions. Premiership skipper If he was not all but certain to be snapped up by the Suns as an academy selection, the Cairns Saints junior would be in the conversation about po- tential No.1 draft picks because of his clean hands, composure, feared season ender versatility and ability to push forward and kick goals. But he is still pinching him- SCOTT GULLAN than originally expected. moment and I thought I’m “The main thing was to comfortable,” he said. “For the self that he is one step closer to Wood admitted he feared his done, I’ve wrecked it. stiffen that joint because I rest of that game I couldn’t get becoming an AFL footballer. WESTERN Bulldogs premier- season was over when he in- “When we got down to the wouldn’t have been able to off the ground at all, but it then “It’s really exciting to be ship captain Easton Wood will itially suffered the injury. rooms and took the boot off, it play if that was unstable,” improved each week.” down here because you dream be sidelined for four months “I’d jumped and landed and had blown up like a balloon Wood explained. The walking wounded of about this stuff growing up. I following major ankle surgery. my ankle just rolled inward,” and I was certain it was done.” “That’s where the docs and the Dogs is the untold story of always wanted to be a part of The star defender carried he said. Scans revealed there was no physio Chris Bell did an amaz- the premiership victory. this,’’ Bowes said. the injury throughout the fi- “I thought I was in serious, break or rupture so Wood ing job because at no point did Defender “I’m confident I can be nals series after damaging the serious strife as soon as it hap- began an intensive rehabili- I have any stability issues.” played the game out with two above average in all of the tests medial ligament in his ankle pened. tation program to get ready for Wood suffered a scare early fractures in his back while a but all I can do is give them my against Essendon in Round 22. “In 2011 I’d dislocated my the Bulldogs’ finals campaign. in the elimination final against number of key players includ- best shot.’’ He went into hospital on ankle. This one wasn’t any- He spent two weeks virtual- West Coast when he slipped in ing ruck hero Tom Boyd, Jake A host of clubs have spoken Thursday following the club’s where near as bad as that, but ly living in an ice bath while his a marking contest, tweaking Stringer and car- to Bowes but the Suns are ex- count with the when I did it I immediately left ankle was in a moon boot the other side of his ankle. ried issues which will require pected to pounce for their procedure more complicated thought straight back to that for the first week. “That was pretty un- surgery in the coming weeks. academy star. Steele eyes Saints in move from GWS Bombers keen to retain No.1 pick GREATER Western Sydney grappled with injuries, includ- believe he would be a great ad- ESSENDON look increasing- Adrian Dodoro says they are a Onballer Hugh McClug- midfielder has re- ing a foot complaint which dition to our list,” Saints chief ly likely to retain the No.1 pick long shot to trade their top gage is widely rated as the quested a trade to St Kilda, kept him out of this year’s fi- operating officer Ameet Bains in this year’s AFL draft as they selection given the depth of player likely to go first in the joining homesick forward Cam nals. GWS have signalled they said yesterday. hunt for a midfielder who can talent in this year’s draft. draft after an outstanding McCarthy and utility Caleb won’t stand in the tough mid- “The club will now work provide them with an immedi- “It probably won’t happen,” under-18 season and has said Marchbank in seeking an exit fielder’s way as long as St Kilda closely with both Greater ate boost. he said yesterday. “There’s he would be happy to join the from the Giants. proposes a suitable trade. Western Sydney and Jack’s The Bombers will go into been clubs that have asked Bombers, who finished last this Steele, 20, has played 17 “Jack has indicated he management to ensure we can tomorrow’s trade period with about it but at this point there’s season after losing 12 players to AFL games in two seasons and wants to join St Kilda and we come to a suitable trade.” open minds but list manager been no serious offers. doping bans.

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