RETURNS KENT

27 January 2010

IAN LEWIS

CASTERTON has scored another recruiting coup by re-signing dynamic full-forward Dylan Kent and dashing midfielder Dylan Ryan for the 2010 season.

Club president Clyde Lawrence said the two players had committed to the Cats for the upcoming WBFL season and along with its other key signing, Jamie Cammarano, would give the Cats forward line and onball stocks a major boost.

Kent has been playing football in Queensland and Darwin for the past two seasons while Ryan played for Geelong Amateurs last season.

Lawrence said Kent had been on weights since he last played at Island Park and had really bulked up.

“He will be an intimidating player for the opposition,” he said.

“His arms are as thick as my legs and he looks really good. With all these good players returning to the club, the selectors will really have to sit down when they select a side each week.

“Rick smith is one player we really haven’t seen the best of yet and we expect to see a great deal of him in top form this season.

“Shaun Taylor will be back to full fitness hopefully and we should get to see more of him on the track as well.”

Lawrence said there was a really good feeling around the club at the moment and was confident about the club’s immediate future.

“We would be pretty disappointed if we don’t play finals this year,” he said. “We have recruited well and given coach Matt Patzel the nucleus of a good side to work with.”

He predicted club selectors would have enough quality players around the club to have long nights around the committee table picking two senior teams each week.

“We should be able to back to the reserves to find players now rather than having to go direct to the under-18s for players,” he said.

Lawrence identified the surrounding South West District Football league sides as potential raiders of players who may miss the cut for the senior 22.

“We just have to keep all the players and hope they don’t go to South West clubs. Some of those clubs will be after some of our players for sure.”

Kent was a key player for the Cats in his last season at Island Park in 2007 and thrilled spectators with his high flying for marks, fearless attack on the ball and long bombs through the goals.

He and Cammarano will be a real handful for opposition attacks and the pair should be able to post more than 100 goals for the season between them.

Ryan won a club best and fairest in 2008 and was sadly missed last year. His work with Brent Howard, Chris Perry and Jason Harvey will be a key to getting the ball quick and long to Kent and Cammarano.