Bock has a good vibe about new coaches
SOUTHPORT head honcho Nathan Bock can already feel the synergy being generated by a revamped coaching panel at the Sharks this year.
Into his third season at Fankhauser Reserve, Bock heads up an off-field panel consisting of club hall of famer Dane Carmody, Andrew Hayes (Mt Eliza) and former Gold Coast Suns midfielder Danny Stanley.
Carmody was alongside Bock last year but Hayes, a cousin of St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes, and Stanley, unable to play on because of a bad ankle, are new faces.
The new panel will have a serious test today with Southport’s final NEAFL pre-season practice match against Redland at Fankhauser Reserve (3pm start).
“What I like about the fourway coaching panel is that it gives us an extra set of eyes, an extra voice,” Bock said of the new arrangement.
“Andrew is a good addition as a midfield coach and he seems to know his stuff, ‘Bull’ (Stanley) is looking after defence and ‘Chipper’ (Carmody) has the forwards.”
“I’m confident this will work out for a good season for us.”
The Sharks will take in a near full-strength squad against the Bombers today.
Gun signings Hamish Shepheard, Matt Fowler and Josh Baxter are set to join Todd Grayson, Andrew Boston and Fraser Thurlow for their first hit-outs of the pre-season. The only senior players missing will be Jack Anthony, who is on the comeback trail after a major neck scare in June last year, and dual Broadbeach best and fairest Ryan Pantic, who is still on the mend from a knee reconstruction.
Bock said it would be a bit of a learning process with eight to 10 players working together for the first time.
Fowler looks to be over groin problems that plagued his season with West Perth last year.
“He has been training really well,” Bock said of the former Western Magpies (Brisbane) youngster who was among the first intake of 17-year-olds at the Suns in 2009.
An interesting face will beformer Townsville Crocs NBL basketballer Tom Howard who last weekend had his first game of Australian football in his life for Southport’s under 23s side.