Coming into the season a little late, I was a bit nervous onto how I would adapt and fit in with the playing group as a previous player now coach. But from the first training session I came down, I could see that we have a special group. Having the registered number of players at 84 (and going up) it was going to be very difficult for the coaching panel to pick just 44 players, with a number of new faces coming down for their first years at the club, as well as some old faces returning to the Animals family.
Players such as Flynn Normand-McMahon, Zac Durrant, Zac Kearns and the Hunt brothers have slotted into the group seamlessly, with club “veterans” Adam Athorne, Steve Jones, “Chook” O’ Connor and Nic Glanville leading the way. Being six games into a fourteen-game season at 4 wins and 2 tight losses, we have started well and hopefully can continue this form going into the back half of the year.
Wins against Parkdale and North Brunswick have been fantastic, with great individual efforts from Harry Wines (Parkdale, 30+ disposals) and Tom Birkett (North Brunswick, 9 goals) highlighting the days.
A new game plan being introduced has had its hiccups as excepted, but with 3 wins on the trot the coaches can see the improvement from all players since the start of the season. The comradery and mateship shown from the boys has been the highlight of my year so far, with a lot of boys staying for Thursday night dinners, getting down early to watch the girls play and getting around the injured players.
We can go a long way with this Reserves team this season, and if we stick together the sky is the limit.
Sizzle Sizzle.
Tom Clarke - Reserves Coach