Lauderdale youngster Nick Dodge has become the third Tasmanian to join the Coburg Football Club this off season.
At just 19 years of age, Dodge is an athletic medium sized forward who has built up an already impressive CV in his two seasons of Senior Tasmanian State League Football managing 47 goals in 27 games for Lauderdale since debuting in 2015.
Dodge had a watershed 2016 campaign where he not only managed 26 goals from 13 games, however would represent Tasmania at under 18 level (TAC Cup and NAB Division 2 Championships) and in the State League game against Western Australia. Dodge also represented the Allies in 2015, playing in the AFL Grand Final Day Curtain Raiser, kicking two goals on the day.
While his preferred position is a medium forward, Dodge is also capable of playing on a wing, on the ball or off halfback. While he boasts an outstanding marking ability, Dodge is also an excellent set shot for goal and has outstanding goal sense.
Dodge joins good mate Josh Watts, as well as fellow Tasmanian Stuart Donnelly, and he cannot wait to begin making the step up to VFL Football.
“I guess it’s more about opportunity at the end of the day. Getting over here, obviously I know a few of the boys at Coburg which is going to be really good, but obviously testing out my football a little bit more and seeing where my football is at. Obviously my main aim is to get drafted still and hopefully it’s through the VFL, and coming through here I think is my main pathway to it,” said Dodge.
List and Recruiting Manager Sebastian Spagnuolo was delighted to have won the race for the versatile forward’s services.
“We are delighted to introduce Nick to the Coburg Footy Club, and to the VFL competition.”
“Nick is a very talented youngster that is full of energy as a forward. He has a knack of creating goal scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates, and we are excited to start working with Nick.”
This marks the fifth signing of the week, and we will announce more signings next week prior to Christmas.