Stay positive, Colina urges Warriors

THERE were no more than 50 people in attendance at ABD Stadium when North Geelong and Hume City met last December, but it creates finality in tomorrow’s match.

Coming off promotion, the Warriors were starting preseason in good spirits, despite the daunting challenge ahead.

After runs in both the FFA Cup and NPL1 post-season, Hume City had seemingly bolstered its ranks with the likes of Atilla Ofli, Wayne Wallace and James McGarry.

In the stifling early summer heat, Kristian Trajceski and McGarry were rampant in midfield, as Hume handed North an 8-0 pasting.

Now, the two are no longer playing in Broadmeadows, leaving mid-season.

After disappointing results, dysfunction and multiple head coaches, Hume City has just as little to play for in tomorrow’s NPL1 climax as North Geelong. For the Warriors, that 8-0 loss set one of the most difficult seasons in the club’s history in motion.

Alarm bells were not ringing for North coach Micky Colina, however.

“Early in the pre-season, that result was just a reality. We had no illusions about what NPL1 was going to be like. For us, we knew it was going to be tough,” Colina said.

“I think everyone responded well after that match, but the boys definitely knew what was expected of them in the league. I think we improved after that point, it’s just the competition took two steps forward.”

With turnover expected in the off-season, it could also be the last time many from North Geelong’s core since the inception of NPL even play together.

Unsure about his own future let alone his players’, Colina is banking on that very finality to spur on an honest performance.

“It’s a dead rubber for both sides, but it might be the last time this group plays together. I’m not going to say anything definitively but I think we’ve approached that time,” he said.

“Looking at the big picture and where they started, getting relegated from State League 1 in 2013 to making NPL1, I want the boys to keep their heads high.

“We want to finish on the most positive note that we can, and there’s nothing else that you can call upon.”