2023 Hostplus Central District Pocket Profile

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Bulldogs heading into the 2023 Hostplus SANFL League season.

Saturday March 4
Norwood 11.16 (82) d Central 8.8 (56) at Hisense Stadium

Saturday March 11
Glenelg 14.4 (88) d Central 13.2 (80) at X Convenience Oval

Saturday March 18
Central v South at X Convenience Oval – 2.20pm

It hasn’t taken Jez McLennan long to remind Central District officials of what he can bring, on and off the field.

As a result, the 22-year-old with just five League games to his name has been thrust into the Bulldogs’ leadership group for 2023.

The Tanunda product was unable to break through for an AFL game with the Gold Coast Suns but looms as an important player for Central this year.

McLennan has a natural knack of reading the play off half-back but could also be used in other roles by coach Paul Thomas.

”We will start with playing him where his weapon is – we certainly look forward to seeing that,” Thomas said.

”But Jez, like others in our leadership group, is quite flexible and an intelligent leader in the game so if we need to use them in other areas we will certainly look at that.”

The overseas departure of joint Norm Russell Medallist Travis Schiller will certainly be felt at Elizabeth but Lewis Cowham is a leading contender to fill the void in 2023.

Making his League debut last season before finishing with nine games in 2022, the Tanunda product boasts a hard edge to his game inside the centre square.

Coming off a strong preseason, last year’s SA U20 MVP is looming as a genuine Powerade Breakthrough Player this season.

”He’s an inside, hunting midfielder so very much similar to Jarrod Schiller,” Central coach Paul Thomas said.

”He has good body work, good foot work and just gets after the pill while also getting at the bloke with the pill.

”It’s great that we have a good connection with guys from our local area, as well as guys like Isaiah Dudley, Luca Whitelum and Adam Deakin too.”

Torrens University SA U18 coach Tony Bamford profiles the Bulldogs’ players in 2023.

Will McCabe
Will is an athletic, tall player who has experience playing at both ends of the oval as a forward and a defender. At 196cm, and with a nice combination of speed and endurance, he has the athletic profile that a lot of AFL clubs are looking for.

As a tall defender last year for the SA U16 team, his one-on-one aerial contest work was considered elite. When he played as a tall forward with Sacred Heart College, he was able to use his running ability to get off his opponent up high to be a link in the front half of the oval.

He will again be juggling footy between Central and Sacred Heart college this year. Further development in Will’s game will come from improved kicking efficiency in general play, along with an improved contested mark completion rate.

Trent Tattoli
Trent is a midfielder who uses his high-end repeat speed running well in games to win the ball or transition both ways. His game day GPS running is in our top 10 per cent based on data collected last year.

Trent is completing Year 12 at Trinty College this year so will be coming in and out of the SANFL competition. Trent has no trouble finding the footy at SANFL u18 level, having averaged 29 disposals as an U17 last year.

He was also able to win the ball around the contest and stoppages at the same time as averaging 17 uncontested possessions a game. We have challenged Trent to add some scoreboard impact to make him a more dangerous midfielder.

Liam Fawcett
Liam has improved significantly since the middle of last season. His last few games of 2022 were impressive while playing as a key forward where he was able to showcase his marking ability while also hitting the scoreboard consistently.

He produced a standout performance in Round 16 of the U18 Torrens University Cup for the Redlegs last season as a developing tall forward. Liam will need to continue to build his game by investing time into his mobility, ground level skills and ability to apply pressure to the opposition inside 50.

Jayden Matz
Jayden played as the lead ruckman for Central’s U18 team last season. He was very athletic, agile and mobile for his size and was able to use that to his advantage against his heavier opponents. He led the Torrens University Cup U18 competition last year for hit outs while at the same time averaging almost four tackles a game.

At present, Jayden is working hard on his field-kicking efficiency while also looking to take more marks (both contested and uncontested) in general play. At 196cm, he will not be tall enough to be a first-choice ruckman at higher levels, so will need to develop a secondary role as key forward, key back or maybe even as a tall midfielder.