WAGGA Tigers new captain-coach Shaun Campbell has arrived and hit the ground running.
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Campbell moved to Wagga a fortnight ago and has been quick to put his club through their paces as Tigers began pre-season training this week.
But the biggest news coming from Tigerland is that representative defender John Anstee is not going to be lost to the club in 2016.
Anstee will be on work placement next year and Tigers had all but come to terms with the realisation that his tenure was finished with the club.
In good news for both club and the league, Anstee has committed to playing at Tigers wherever possible.
“He’s going to play with us when he can,” Campbell revealed.
“I don’t think he wanted to play anywhere else.
“I’d say he’ll probably play more often than not.
“It’s massive for us.”
Tigers held a meet and greet with Campbell and Canberra-based recruits Sean Ellis, Dale Walker and Rob Touhey last weekend.
Ellis is an electric midfielder and will join Campbell in Tigers’ on-ball brigade.
Walker and Touhey are both key defenders and with the loss of Angus Durnan to Melbourne along with Anstee’s decision to stay, Campbell admits one may have to shift forward.
“I’m not sure what we’re going to do up forward yet,” Campbell said.
“Dale might have to go forward, we’ll work something out.”
Campbell admitted Tigers recruiting was virtually done.
“I’m pretty happy with what we’ve got,” he said.
“There is a few young kids that are going to have to step up to key roles.
“We’ve got a pretty solid spine, we’re only lacking that tall forward, other than that we’re right pretty much.”
Tigers won nine straight games at the back end of this year but bowed out in the preliminary final with a loss to eventual premiers Collingullie-Glenfield Park.
Former coach Matt Rava has departed and apart from Durnan and Xavier Brennan, Tigers have kept their losses to a minimum.
About 30 players attended the first pre-season training run on Tuesday night, a turn out that made a great first impression on Campbell.
“I’m loving it, the club’s been really good to me. We had great numbers on Tuesday night and it’s all been smooth sailing so far.”