2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Kilsyth
by Maddi Vantarakis (@madvan_8)
AFTER just missing out on finals in 2013, Coldstream has re-invented itself over the summer.
A new coach and a serious shuffling of the team list through the off-season is just the beginning.
Losing former coach and EFL legend Matt Price to The Basin wasn’t easy, but the promotion of Leam Doughty to coach is bringing exciting things to this club.
Doughty says the feeling around the team through pre-season has been fantastic and he’s looking forward to season 2014.
“I couldn’t be happier. The training has been really hard, there’s been no whinging and it’s been really positive. I’ve been wrapped with the boys so far,” he said.
There are 17 inclusions on the transfer list for the Cougars this season with the same amount of outs.
Out of a standard side of 22 players, even with your extended list, that’s a big change-up.
Doughty has risen to the challenge of coaching so many new faces and is pleased with the direction in which the group is travelling.
“There’s been a lot of new faces, a lot of blokes have gone on and a lot of new faces in,” he said.
“The training numbers have been really good and the excitement around the group has been really good as well.”
NEW FACES
Doughty says Justin Roberts, who was recruited from the VAFA, and full-back Keegan Mills-Horne are two of many starring during early training.
“I think he [Mills-Horne] has been outstanding with his training and he’s going to go really well. Also Justin Roberts, who’s a new recruit and will play in the forward line. I think he’ll go really well,” Doughty said.
The Cougars’ new coach is placing his mark on this team, focusing to re-work his playing group’s game style.
“We’re trying to set up more structures and game plans,” Doughty said.
“We’re also doing a bit more work off field, as in going through things off field, not just on field. So hopefully it really sinks in to the boys.”
Doughty has also stressed the importance of the development of young players.
“It just depends on how the young blokes go, because they can be a bit up and down. But we’re going to have plenty of them playing in our side,” he said.
FINALS-BOUND?
The Cougars finished sixth last year – one win away from a finals berth.
However, with so many changes, it is the other Division 4 teams that might have to watch out for Coldstream this season.
“To be honest we’re pretty much an unknown quantity,” Doughty said.
“Our aim is to play finals and I think if we work hard and stick to our game plan and structures we can do that.”
Coldstream kicks off its 2014 campaign against Park Orchards on Saturday April 5 at Coldstream Reserve.