Dan Lowther On… Season Expectations

Last year there was significant change as we're all aware of around here, we've had 17 new players come through our doors in the last 12 months so last year was setting a platform for us to go forward, a lot of contested ball, they were the strengths of the group last year. 

So what we're expecting after three months of training is a more free-flowing outside game to complement what we've built on from last season. Still very contested-based but now adding different layers and we feel the players we've brought into our club in the last six months can help with that. 

Dan Lowther On… The Short Break Between Seasons

It's been perfect.

From my perspective, and I know the players are the same, this is exactly what we were after, longer seasons, more games, so to know that we've condensed two seasons into one is exactly what we're after.

It caused a bit of havoc with families and work and staff to get it right but once we got all those things in motion, to be able to continue from season six into season seven now, particularly with a new coach and a new style, it's enabled us to keep progressing in that space. 

Dan Lowther On... Melissa Bragg

Making the move from netball was a brave move. I think it was probably about six months ago her and I were having a kick in the indoor area at the club for her first taste of footy so she's come a long way in a short time. 

But she is a super competitor and that's what we need. She's a nice-sized player who can play forward, she can play forward, she can play defence but what she brings is her competitive nature which is all we can ask for at this point in time. 

Dan Lowther On... Richmond

I'm expecting their midfield to be really relevant during the game with Conti, Egan, McKenzie, very outside free-flowing footy, they love to play the game on the outside and use their skills. They've got a strong defence, Brennan up forward, Wakefield's in good form so we have to try and deny their midfield getting the ball in their front half as much as possible which I'm expecting Sunday's game to be a midfield v midfield battle. 

I've got full faith in our group the way they've developed and the way they've developed over the pre-season, we've got a really strong core of mids, it's just whether they can bring it against some real quality players.