CLUB HAS ITS EYES ON THE PRIZE
IT’S all about the project for North Geelong.
The Warriors want to build a club for the future from a club bursting with young, talented local players. It’s not about promotion just yet.
But there is also an air of expectation surrounding the young North Geelong squad ahead of Saturday’s seasonopener against Brunswick City at Elcho Park.
A third-place finish — just shy of promotion — in 2018 has the local powerhouse as one of the leading contenders to return to the NPL come the end of the season.
But can they deliver on that expectation? Or is it still too soon for coach James Coutts and his developing squad?
“I think it’s something we would love to aim towards,” Coutts said when asked if his squad was eyeing promotion this season.
“I think there are so many variables that come in to it. We’ve certainly brought in players that are for the now, but also for the future.
“We have a big emphasis on building a club around young players and hopefully have as many locals in there as possible.
“We are building a bit of a long-term project as opposed to immediate success.”
Co-captain Ryan Opperman is a bit more coy. After an off-season of upheaval at the end of 2017, many pundits expected the Warriors to battle in 2018.
But they thrived under coach Luciano Trani … until his shock resignation in May.
The Warriors didn’t lose any momentum on the pitch, with Coutts taking over in the second half of the season and guiding them to third.
That end to the year has Opperman confident there are more exciting times ahead at Elcho Park.
“We just have to play each game as it comes,” Opperman, who will lead the side with Michael Anderson, said.
“We finished third last year and people didn’t think we’d finish that high. Some people might have thought we were going to get relegated.
“If we can take that motivation into this year and work for each other then we will be fine. We will be aiming for the top and if we can get there then we will be really happy.”
Coutts had his side playing some really good football towards the end of 2018 and with a full pre-season in control he is confident of building on that good form this year.
“By the end of last year you could see the style coming to life a little bit more. Now it’s a case of hopefully a big pre-season, new lads, and just enhancing that,” Coutts said.
“Football is forever changing and evolving and we need to make sure we go along with it. Hopefully we will see over the first 10 games how we are going and how we are progressing as a group.”
There is stability within the squad heading into 2019. The Warriors have retained goal scorer Darius Madison, while adding centre back Kai Halliday, left back Lachlan Weier and right back Yosuf Mohamed to defence.
Paddy Karras and Nick Kozdra are also new faces in the squad, while Lochie McGrath returns after a season at Corio.
Coutts said Weier was an exciting prospect.
“I played with Lachie at Gold Coast. He’s a young player I believe has the attributes to go into the pro game,” he said.
“He is certainly an exciting talent but he has a big learning period coming up within his game. He will be a big player for us this year.”
The return of Madison cannot be underestimated as well. The American forward was highly sought after at the end of 2018 following his 13 goal return in his NPL2 debut season.
The speedy striker has all the attributes to tear the competition to shreds, but needs to be more clinical in front of goal.
“Darius no doubt should have scored more goals last year and he knows that. But he is a completely different player already to the one I met when I came in,” Coutts said.
“I have no doubt, and I hope, Darius progresses his career and gets to where he wants to which is in the professional game. I certainly believe he has the attributes to do it.”
Mid-season signing Ben Hampson has caught the eye of Opperman over the summer, with the centre-back a presence in the heart of the Warriors’ defence.
“We needed that leadership and he has taken on that role back there and he has been solid throughout the whole pre-season,” Opperman said.
The Warriors will face a new challenge in 2019 with local rival Geelong earning promotion into NPL2 for this season.
The ambitious Stead Park outfit are set to make a splash in the competition and Coutts believes the rivalry will bring the best out of his team.
“It’s great for the region and both clubs. It’s awesome and it’s something we are really happy about,” he said.
“But they’re just another NPL club and I pay just as much attention to them as any other club.”
North Geelong starts its campaign at home tomorrow against Brunswick City.
While the Leonidas just escaped relegation at the end of last season, Opperman says the Warriors will have to be at their best to get all three points.
“They will be a very good team to play against. We beat them last year and drew at home,” he said.
“I don’t think there will be any easy games this year. We will go in 100 per cent focused and we will be ready for a tough game.
“We just have to play our style and hopefully come away with the three points.” TOMORROW: Don’t miss Geelong’s NPL2 preview