Panel perfect fit to drive St Mary’s campaign
ST MARY’S coach Troy Mitchell has credited his team of coaches for taking the Saints to another grand final.
Kane Purcell has headed Mitchell’s group of understudies, while Russell McMahon and Jason Armistead have also strengthened the offfield department this season.
A former Anglesea coach and South Barwon premiership player, Armistead joined the Saints in the off-season and juggles the Geelong Falcons’ under-18 girls’ side.
With fire brigade duties keeping Mitchell busy through the week, Purcell, McMahon and Armistead have taken training for most of the season.
“Jase has been around for a long time,” Mitchell said of Armistead.
“He’s had a lot of success at South Barwon, he does our defensive stuff. He’s a very open person, he’s really passionate. He wants to develop his own football experiences and his own coaching, so he’s been able to bring some outside things.
“He’s got a real passion and a massive understanding of how the game’s played and the direction it should be going — he’s been a real bonus.”
Mitchell has said all season his club’s objective was to improve on last year, and not only as far as results.
He is adamant they have achieved, leaving them better placed to win this year’s flag.
“I know it doesn’t sound a lot — and I don’t want to harp on us being too young a group, because we’re not that young — but they’ve had another year, they grow, they understand what it takes at this level to be successful,” he said.
“Their bodies have grown, they’ve had another year on the weights, a bit more structured running and another preseason under their belt — that makes a massive difference.
“The bonus for the club is they are a young group and they’re going to keep improving, if anything. It’s exciting times for the club.”
But Mitchell said he was not any more relaxed knowing the Saints had skipped a preliminary final with a direct passage into the decider.
“Any footy you get pretty intense and you’re a little bit nervous, no matter what it is,” he said.
“But just the planning side of it makes it a lot easier; you can manage people the right way and get everything organised more than anything.”