GET A FITBIT
NEW Grovedale coach Bruce Waldron says his primary focus will be on developing junior players when he takes the reins at Burdoo Reserve.
Waldron, who spent two years at the helm at St Mary’s before departing just weeks out from this year’s finals series, is open to the possibility of bringing new players to the Tigers but said with the addition of a points system and salary cap next year that his priority was on the talent already at the club.
“I think the club realises that it is in a rebuilding phase and with the points system coming in and a salary cap, the days of just importing a side from Melbourne are over,” Waldron said.
“So you have got to go back to basics, and while we are a lot of players down, it is a definite rebuild.
“We are looking to get some players in, though, to develop a good club culture and I have been coaching against Grovedale when they have been very, very well supported and they have had a hard year, but the courts have been redone and next year I think there is a real buzz around the club.”
Grovedale was forced to play away from its home court in 2018 during redevelopment of its facilities but will be back by round 1 next season.
Waldron said he was excited to be back in the game and was looking forward to seeing how Grovedale progressed after a disappointing year.
“When I spoke to the committee it was an opportunity too good to resist to be honest,” he said.
“But we are under no illusions as to the job that is in front of us. You can’t just go and grab players with the points system.
“We are certainly looking to recruit but we will probably look to recruit some younger players and some B-graders who haven’t been getting an opportunity in A-grade at their own clubs yet.
“We will try to get some younger players who have left … but there are a lot of good players around Geelong, so we will look to develop a culture where we bring in some local kids and everyone trains.”
Grovedale, which has not played A-grade finals since 2015, finished 10th on the ladder this year with three wins.