Tigers ready to step up

GFL

COLAC coach Kane Leersen says he hopes the impending arrival of Rowan McSparron as co-coach will take the Tigers to the next level.

The Tigers were yesterday knocked out of the finals series at the first stage by South Barwon at GMHBA Stadium.

McSparron, the former Geelong Amateur co-coach, will share coaching duties with Leersen in 2019, and Leersen hopes McSparron can galvanise the group to take the extra step.

“It’s a great environment, a great bunch of footballers and young men, but now we’ve got to make the decision whether football is everyone’s numberone priority,” Leersen said following the 29-point loss to South Barwon.

“The next step now is to add some professionalism to the individual preparation.

“You won’t respond late in games without that foundation there. It’s exciting for someone like Rowan McSparron to come in who will lift the group and add a bit of polish.”

Leersen said his players’ inability — due to circumstance — to not do extra work on and off the track held the team back yesterday. Colac faded, conceding six final-quarter goals after being engaged in a tough arm wrestle.

“Finishing fifth is probably a fair reflection of where we’re at as a club at the moment,” he said. “To compete with the top echelon in the competition you need to be doing two weights sessions at every recovery session and train with intent and purpose.

“We need to find improvement to get back into the top couple and that has to come internally.”

Geelong VFL-listed midfielder Sam McLachlan was a late withdrawal yesterday, with Leersen revealing postmatch McLachlan had a crack in the navicular bone in his foot.