Southern Don't miss out on the headlines from Southern. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Bulldogs have sharpened their bite.
St Paul’s McKinnon targeted a mix of big-bodied midfielders and key pillars down back to lift its 2025 premiership ambitions. The Doggies have signed Stuart Wines (Black Rock), Wade King (Benalla), Jack Cackett (East Keilor), Blake Uebergang (Benalla), Justin Bennett (Bonbeach) and Will Dwyer (Shepparton Swans) in a strong off-season haul. St Paul’s McKinnon finished second on the Southern league Division 1 ladder but fell to Dingley in the semi and preliminary final.
Coach Andy Scott felt depth, particularly through the middle, was the Doggies’ downfall in the finals and believes Wines, King and Dwyer amend that. “For us, depth was a massive key that we needed to add especially through our midfield,” he said. “We wanted some experienced midfielders with stronger bodies to help out our existing midfield in (Jimmy) Sziller, Bevo (Kyle Beveridge), Reagan (Maddaford), Nick Roberts.
“That’s why Stu Wines, young Will Dwyer, he is a big-bodied midfielder, and obviously Wade is a classy half-forward mid. “We targeted these guys pretty early in our recruiting.” Reigning Division 3 medallist Stuart Wines.
The Doggies were an exciting group when up and running in 2024. Their dash and dare was their strength and one of the main reasons they lost just two home and away matches. Scott thinks the addition of the bigger midfielders.