REBUILDING THE SHARKS
SOUTHPORT NEAFL coach Steve Daniel says 2018 may be about rebuilding for the Sharks but believes fans won’t have to wait long for their window of success to open again.
Daniel has overhauled the playing list in his first year, bringing in 25 new faces as part of his rebuild after the proud club won just four games last year.
It’s no easy feat but Daniel said the building blocks were finally in place.
“This year is a rebuilding phase and we are putting a lot of things in place which will continue to drive success over the next couple of years,” he said. “One would think this year we will certainly improve and it looks very good for the future.
“Even in 2019 and 2020 I’d like to think we are up. Our window changes from where we are looking at the moment. We will be looking out a lot brighter window in the next couple of years.”
Daniel said he had already seen massive improvements by his list who he believes can win at least eight games and be in the mix for finals.
With so many new faces on the list, Daniel said the major challenge was getting the group to buy in.
“It’s like coaching a representative team,” he said.
“You have got to get them all in, working together and to buy in.
“More importantly they have got to mix and get on with each other. “It’s a hard role but something that had to be done. We had to break it right back in this first year and start again.
“Next season lets hope we only have to recruit five or six players rather than 25.
“We have certainly got the ball rolling it the right direction and we’re more than happy with where we are at.
“I’d like to think we are going to be more than competitive throughout the year.”
Daniel has spent time coaching in two AFL systems.
Firstly with Carlton’s VFL affiliate Northern Blues and more recently at the Suns.
What he has learned is strong relationships are the key to success across all levels of footy.
“At the end of the day there is one thing I’ll always say and that’s you have got to have good relationships with your players, no matter if that’s back in the 80s or now,” he said. “If the players don’t respect you or buy into what you’re doing then you have lost them and therefore they won’t play for you. That is probably big thing for me.
“That is probably my best attribute – if I had to say one – is working with my players and my support staff.”
WE WILL BE LOOKING OUT A LOT BRIGHTER WINDOW IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS