By RUSSELL BENNETT
NEW Gembrook Cockatoo Football Club senior coach Rick Clark admits the numbers back at training in the early stages of the pre-season were “a bit sluggish”.
The motivation for some might have been slightly tougher to achieve this time around. After all, the majority of the playing group was returning off the back of its third successive Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League (YVMDFL) Division 1 grand final loss.
But now it’s full steam ahead, with a renewed energy sure to spark the Brookers back towards the top of the league once again.
“The last two months have been exceptional with the blokes’ commitment.” Clark said.
“I’ve been really, really happy with it.”
Clark predicted the heartbreak of seasons past was now behind his troops, with the Brookers set to open their season this Saturday at home against Woori Yallock – the side that has beaten them in the decider two out of the past three years.
“The best thing is that we’ve got a clean slate,” he said.
“It’s (now) my turn to get the boys up and that’s what I’m after – a fresh start.”
Clark was appointed alongside former St Kilda AFL star Aussie Jones as a playing assistant to incoming Brookers senior coach Travis Marsham in 2009. All three men had proved instrumental in guiding Narre Warren to back-to-back Casey Cardinia flags in 2006-07. Clark then spent a year as Brookers captain before being appointed playing-coach for season 2013.
“I thought that if I was going to do this, it was going to have to be now,” Clark said at Gembrook’s Orchard Road clubrooms last Thursday night.
“It has all fitted in quite well – I enjoy it up here, it’s a great footy club to be involved in and the boys knew who I was and I knew who they were.
“It’s been a smooth transition. Throughout the year I’m sure we’ll have our ups and downs but for now it’s all going pretty well.”
Despite rumours swirling of a host of players leaving over the off-season, the Brookers have retained the majority of their 2012 list.
In Clark’s words, the side has lost “four or five established guys” and the absence of the likes of full-back Nathan Brown and silky young utility Nathan Muratore will be sorely felt.
But the Brookers have welcomed in a host of big-name, established talent to help fill the void. Former Narre Warren stars Daniel and Andrew Field will slot into the midfield rotation and tall backman and fellow former Magpie Josh Lafranchi will man a key post in the defensive 50. But arguably the Brookers’ biggest inclusion is Clark’s (slightly) older twin brother Lee, who will form one half of an imposing key forward tandem alongside Brookers fan favourite Shannon Richardson.
“Richo kicked 60-odd goals for us last year,” Clark said.
“So if we can get 40-50 goals from each of those guys this season I’ll be quite happy.”
Andrew ‘AJ’ Walker – fresh off guiding Emerald to the West Gippsland Cricket Association District division premiership – will again take his place in the Brookers’ midfield, while evergreen man-mountain Craig Clarke will again shoulder the majority of the side’s ruck duties.
The new coach said his side was aiming for a return to the finals but would have to look out for Wandin, and perennial contenders Upwey and Woori Yallock along the way.
“The good thing about this competition is that it’s quite even,” Clark said.
“Look at the MPNFL and you’ve got two sides way out in front and the rest fill up the numbers.
“But in this league any side on its day could have a good win against any good opposition.”
