Photos: East Ringwood Football Club Facebook page.
2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Templestowe
by Damian Watson (@Damo_109)
A NEW coach with different dynamics and styles can add a refreshing element to a football club.
This, coupled with the general enthusiasm ahead of a new season, allows genuine optimism to filter through the side.
Incoming East Ringwood coach Dale Bower says these feelings are prominent in the Roos’ camp as the home and away rounds approach.
“We’re all really looking forward to getting stuck into the season,” he said.
“All the players have trained hard over the pre-season and we are hoping to go well. There always is an obvious feeling of excitement heading into a new year.”
The new Roos Coach has placed a high emphasis on ball skills to enhance a “solid pre-season” for the side.
“We have tried to do as much work with the footy as we can to improve the way we want to play,” Bower said.
Bower, who previously coached Scoresby to two Division 1 Grand Finals, arrives at East Ringwood Recreation Reserve after a stint as a senior line coach at VFL club Williamstown last year.
He says the Roos are “heading in the right direction” in adapting to his new game plan.
“We have made some inroads as we start to gain match practice,” Bower said.
“It’s going to take time to work. We have worked pretty hard to amend a few things during the pre-season. The players are extremely keen to improve.”
The East Ringwood coach says he has been impressed with the players’ form on the training track over the off-season, citing new recruit Brad Jones as a standout.
“Every time Brad [Jones] trains he goes out and leads by example, he puts everything into his training,” Bower said of the former Scoresby player.
NEW RECRUITS
Jones is one many recruits joining the Roos this season.
Others making the transition include Dean Cleven (Noble Park), Michael Stockdale (Williamstown), Jacob Crowe (Eastern Ranges), Matt Cunningham (Frankston), Cal and Wade McConnon (Alberton FNL), David Marcius, Brenton Legg and Owen Chadwick (Scoresby).
“We are very happy with who we have picked up,” Bower said.
“There are about 10 recruits who we expect to make an impact in the senior team. Dean Cleven has had a fantastic pre-season and is a great ruckman while the McConnon boys will help give us speed on the outside and play many roles.”
“Jacob Crowe is a great runner who can kick the ball well. Michael Stockdale is a very smart and polished ball-user. Matt Cunningham is a key defender who can play a number of roles down back as a versatile and mobile player.”
Bower says his vision for season 2014 revolves around embedding a competitive mindset in his team.
“We want to go out and give our all every week,” he said.
“We have worked on building a very balanced game plan in which we play the way we want to play and become competitive in every situation. Hopefully through this attitude we can win quite a few games as we place our focus on Round 1.”
East Ringwood hosts Norwood in its opening match on 5 April at East Ringwood Recreation Reserve.