Better the Devils
I WAS in London when I received a call from Corio asking whether I’d be interested in coaching this year.
My knowledge on the Devils was limited. I could always remember the club having good juniors, which we still have today, but results on the field had been poor and numbers on the track, from all reports, were not great.
It was vital I did my research on the club and spoke to people back home in regards to what was going on down there.
Despite hearing about a history of ill-discipline on and off the field, I couldn’t dwell on the past but develop a positive culture for the future.
My biggest challenge, however, was to change that culture.
I returned from London on November 28 and had my first day as coach on November 29.
Only seven senior players turned up to training.
I knew numbers would be low but I wasn’t expecting these numbers.
I could have taken it two ways — I could have given up and packed it in early or take on the challenge of building this club right back up, but it is going to be a process.
Firstly, I think at any club, character is important as good character attracts good people to any club.
We have had a number of new guys come to the club who are always at training working hard and trying to improve themselves and the team by doing so, but are also good blokes to be around.
We need to make sure that this club becomes enjoyable for people to be at again and make people feel welcomed, so we need people at the club who are going to do that.
I believe empowering your players is also important at any level and is something I have worked hard at doing at training and game days. I felt when I first took over players were reluctant to say anything about how training was going and how we could improve.
Now that is changing, guys are speaking up, coming up with ideas to improve on-field behaviours, the way we play and the things we can do better at training and game day.
Becoming more professional at training and game day has also been a big focus.
Our club rule for the seniors on game day is that a Corio polo along with slacks and dress shoes are worn to every game. This is just a little example among a number of other things that we are doing to change our culture and image.
This evening, as a group, we’re feeding the homeless — this is our way of giving back to the community.
This idea actually came from the leadership group and they have really driven it among the club.
Players have all donated $10 as well as the group’s fine money that would be usually used towards the end-ofseason get together but has been instead put towards a barbecue and sleeping bags and blankets for the homeless.
This is something that I am proud of the playing group for doing — it shows the good character of the group and is something they are all doing together and getting the entire club involved too.
While you can’t put a time on how quickly things will change, you just have to keep working harder to ensure things improve and change.
We have to get all the little things right on the training track and off the field.
Once we start doing all the right things in these areas, then the success of winning will come.