The Balmain Dockers are pleased to announce that Tim & Sam Schmidt have also decided to come on board for 2010 and beyond. Tim was the Sydney Swans best first year player in 2007 and played 17 senior games with the Swans mainly as a midfielder. At 23 years old Tim has plenty of football to go and is excited about playing beside his 26 year old brother who played with West Adelaide in the SANFL and also country SA.

The Club is also extremely pleased to formally announce Jason Saddington in the role as Senior Playing Assistant Coach for 2010. Jason and family are moving back to Sydney mid January and he will take up an appointment with Balmain for at least 3 years. Jason has met with the new Executive Committee and fully supports the Club's genuine efforts for positive change in a number of areas. Recently retired Balmain player Markus Busch will coach the U18's Premier Division side in 2010 rolling off his more recent success with the junior AFL side at Marist College Eastwood.

 

Balmain is also pleased to announce that dual best & fairest winner Janis Blums is continuing on as is key ruckman James "Dusty" Miller plus many others.

 

President Peter Adams went on to state "Yes, some players are trying their hand elsewhere interstate and good luck to them. Our core focus is getting the structures right and then build on it progressively. We have some very good young players coming through with two training with East Fremantle at the moment (and expected to return) and we fully recognise that we need the right players and mindset around to support them. We understand that some things will take time and for that reason we are not predicting anything other than having a competitive 2010 with the emphasis on continuing to work with our junior pathway clubs".