Longwarry coach Grant Close is aiming to go one better than the last two years and make the grand final in 2007.Ken Moore
LONGWARRY coach Grant Close is looking to build on the solid foundations laid down over the past two seasons.
After two narrow preliminaryfinal losses Close is confident the Crows have put the right formula together over summer to go all the way in 2007.
“Hopefully we’ll go into the season with more experience and bigger bodies. We’ve picked up a number of sixfoottwo 90 to 100kilo beefedup blokes,” he said.
“We’ve made an effort to get bigger guys. We don’t need the onballers and halfforward flanker types as much.
“This season we’re looking towards a few bigger boys to fine tune the mix so we don’t get pushed off the ball as often.”
Quizzed on what he can take away from his first year as senior coach in 2006 and how he can use it to better team performance this season Close replied, “I’ve learnt from last year that you can never have too much experience,” he said.
“I tended to take it for granted that the young kids have enough nous and know how and when to use it, but in the finals it did not pan out that way. I want to instil into the youngsters that everybody has an onfield responsibility.”
Close said his teaming with new assistant coach, Berwick recruit Ryan Donaldson, was going along fine and he was pleasantly surprised how the two opposing personalities complemented each other.
“Ryan has added a bit more variety around the club. He goes about things quietly, but he’s very good. While I’m very energetic, he’s very calm and collected so between us there’s something for everyone” he said.
Close added that Donaldson had big shoes to fill to replace its star goalkicker Glen Browney who has moved to Drouin as assistant coach.
However, he said he was confident Donaldson had more than enough ability and experience to replicate Browney’s feat of a century of goals last season.
Similar to last season Longwarry has again shelved the temptation to play a practice match.
“We won’t be playing any again this year. I gave it a little consideration, but the dry grounds put an end to those thoughts,” he said.
“I’m confident we’ve done a hell of a lot of running to get by and prefer not to risk any of our players.”
Close introduced an exciting brand of fast playonatallcosts football last season, mixed with admirable consistency, but after a long playing career he will not just be content with another finals appearance.
“Due to injuries and other priorities it will probably be my last year, so as far as I’m concerned it’s all or nothing and we’ll be giving it everything this season,” he said.
