2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: St Simons
by Nick Brown (@nickbbrown)
AS Simon Rourke heads into his first season as senior coach of Heathmont, there is one thing he is unsure of and one thing he is absolutely certain about.
What he is unsure of is just how close Heathmont is to being a serious premiership contender.
Yes, he has seen the players train all pre-season and seen them have a hit out in an intra-club practice match.
But that is it, hence no big calls or premiership promises yet.
“I haven’t seen the playing list in a game structure and I don’t really know the opposition all that much,” Rourke explained.
“We have looked at the opposition and Division 3 looks really strong. We have set a fitness program up and we have put the match plan in place.
“But we aren’t setting any targets yet. We just want to see improvement in the individual and in the group, so it’s probably a question mark at this stage [on being a premiership contender].”
Though while unsure of when the Jets’ next flag will come, Rourke did feel more comfortable predicting one thing.
“There’s exciting times ahead,” he said with confidence.
“It’s really exciting. The core group of players are excited and there is great energy at the club. It’s a great place to be at the moment.”
But doesn’t every coach say that during preseason? Maybe.
Isn’t it straight out of the coaching handbook? Perhaps.
Is it just the same old clichés to pump things up? No.
Rourke doesn’t just say things for the sake of it. Like the way he admitted he wasn’t sure when he would deliver a premiership flag to Heathmont.
“The proof is in the pudding,” Rourke said.
“We are having great numbers and we had 55 players at our intra-club practice match. We had that many that it was tough to try and get everyone on. That’s great from a coach’s point of view.”
NEW RECRUITS
Heathmont had 55 players at an intra-club practice match. Fact.
But is it a case of quantity not quality? You be the judge.
There is Daniel Breese – a gun forward that perhaps Heathmont missed in 2013. Then there is his brother, Ryan, who is a classy midfielder.
Don’t forget former North Melbourne player Kris Shore, who won Lilydale’s Best and Fairest in 2011 when Rourke guided the Falcons to a Division 2 premiership.
Sounds like quality.
But of course among those 55 players are a number of kids and reserves players.
“At the intra-club match, there were a few boys that I saw and I said ‘how come they’re only playing twos?’,” Rourke asked.
“Some are only playing two’s for different reasons, but we have spoken with a few of them and hopefully they’ll push for a senior spot. We’ll also have the Under 19 players coming through and there’s probably at least three or four of them that’ll push for a spot as well.
“It’s a very young club with a lot of talent and they’re all eager to learn.”
NEW STYLE
There is one more thing Rourke felt comfortable saying and that’s the type of game style he wants his team to play.
“We’ll be playing a quick, long and direct style. Fast ball movement direct to our forwards now that we have some and not overly possessive,” he said.
“The guys are picking it up well and I am really pleased with how things are going.”