TURVEY Park’s quest to climb off the bottom of the Riverina League ladder has gained further momentum with the return of two former players.
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Talented ruckman Evan Smith and midfielder David Johnson have both agreed to return to the Bulldogs this season.
It is further good news for Turvey Park just a day after former AFL player Bryce Campbell announced his return to the club.
Turvey Park coach Brad Burkinshaw is pleased things are turning around for the Bulldogs.
“It’s three pretty good signings in the space of 24 hours,” Burkinshaw said.
“Hopefully we’ll have a bit of a snowball effect happening.”
Smith was last at Turvey Park in 2013 when he finished second in the club’s best and fairest as a raw, inexperienced ruckman.
He moved to Wollongong and played for Sydney University in AFL Sydney’s premier division in 2014 and booted 42 goals from 15 games, as well as five NEAFL games.
Smith was also named in AFL Sydney Development Squad’s best in an inter-league fixture against Black Diamond.
Last year, Smith played with Wollongong Bulldogs in the AFL South Coast League and kicked 49 goals from 13 games. He was also in the best on seven occasions.
Burkinshaw is keen to slot Smith in at centre-half-forward.
“He’s fit and tall. He used to be a ruckman that ran everywhere but he’s a centre-half-forward now,” he said.
“We’ll have a genuine target with he and Andrew Noack up there.
“We struggled there last year and that’s what we were trying to build on, some goalkicking power and that’s what we’ve got hopefully.”
After time with Hume League club Lockhart, Johnson has spent the past two years with Sydney University.
He played eight NEAFL games in 2014, as well as 24 games in the AFL Sydney premier division over the past two seasons.
“Dave can play anywhere,” Burkinshaw said.
“He left here as a half-bank flanker and has spent a lot of time through the midfield and forward.
“They’re both going to bring good skills, and experience as well.
Both have played at NEAFL level and are ex-clubpeople who are well known and liked around the club.”
- Turvey Park coach Brad Burkinshaw
“Both have played at NEAFL level and are ex-clubpeople who are well known and liked around the club.”
Turvey Park have now added Campbell, Smith, Johnson and Noack to replace Jack Brooks, Chase Grintell and Matt Hort.
