Hawks determined to avenge loss

THE premiership window is wide open again.

Inverleigh coach Mark McDowell has declared his side is more than capable of breaking a long premiership drought. “There’s no doubt about that,” McDowell said. “That’s the prize we’re after and there’s a lot to focus on and a lot of water has to go under the bridge.

“We think we’ve got a strong list and we’ve got to make sure we manage that list and we’re playing our best football at the end of the year. That’s the focus.”

While retaining a host of stars including champion goalkicker Jak Kennedy-Hunt, the Hawks have bolstered key posts in an ominous warning to the rest of the competition.

“We’re really happy with our recruitment. We’ve been able to bring in quality players,” McDowell said.

“We haven’t had to recruit a heap of players, but the ones we have recruited, we’re really happy with.” After going down by 39 points in last year’s grand final to Bell Post Hill in a typically physical encounter, McDowell admitted the loss still burned.

“I don’t think you ever get over a grand final loss,” he said.

“If you think you’re capable of winning, and we certainly did, it will always hurt. It always comes up in conversation where we think, ‘What if we did that and what if that happened?’.

“It was more about how the day went. We just couldn’t get a crack in. Bell Post Hill kicked 17 goals two (behinds) and their use of the footy was just extraordinary. Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be, who knows? But that’s what happens.”