Bulldogs announce signing of former Student

The UNSW Eastern Surburbs Bulldogs have announced the signing of former Sydney University NEAFL player, Matt Rawlinson for the 2018 AFL Sydney season.

Originally from Claremont in Western Australia, Rawlinson moved to Sydney in 2012 and was an integral member of the Bulldogs 2012 Premiership side, before moving to the NEAFL program in 2014.

In his four seasons at NEAFL level, Rawlinson regularly featured in the MVP Awards vote count, and was widely regarded as one of the premier midfielders in the competition.

He won the NEAFL Best and Fairest Driscoll Medal at Sydney University in 2015 and was twice runner up, and was also named in the NEAFL Team of the Year in 2015 and 2016.

Outside the field of play, Rawlinson was awarded a University Sporting Blue in 2016 for outstanding sporting and academic achievements while studying urban planning at UNSW.

UNSW Eastern Suburbs President, Stephen Dunkley says the signing of Rawlinson speaks for where the club is positioned in 2018.

“To add a player of Matt’s calibre to the playing group reiterates our vision to be the club of choice, and places us in a very sound position for the season ahead,” said Dunkley.

The club is developing a track record when it comes to player development and creating opportunity, a point not lost on Dunkley.

“Credit goes to our outstanding coaching team who have built strong foundations to support our playing group, from which we’ve seen six men and women drafted directly to the AFL and AFLW respectively over the past five years.

“We are clear in our mandate as a pathway development club, and Matt will fit perfectly into our program as we look to nurture the next generation of junior talent coming through.”