Testing times but we’ll give it our all
LABRADOR Tigerstix head coach Darren Fowler has been dealt an unenviable hand as his squad of defending champions resume their Brisbane Hockey League title defence on Saturday.
Exactly four months have passed since his club lost their season-opening grand final rematch against a powerful Easts outfit.
Fowler has had to manage his troops through the COVID-19 layover and keep them focused to correct his listing ship.
Complicating matters is the loss of Kookaburras duo Dylan and Blake Wotherspoon, who have been ordered to stand down by national selectors until they are put through their paces at full-contact training.
The loss of Australian
Under-21s star Luca Brown, who has torn his hamstring off the bone and will miss the remainder of the season, will offer little reprieve for a team down on star power.
Fowler should be filthy at his miserable luck but won’t accept a “doom-and-gloom” outlook, from his players or himself.
“It’s been a surreal year,” the champion coach said.
“We don’t know what to expect when we get back on the pitch because we haven’t been able to train properly.
“We’ve done a lot of physical work and we’re back to where our fitness levels where at the start of the season four months ago but it’s all a big unknown.
“Unfortunately three of our highest profile players are out for this weekend and one for the season.
“We won’t be able to rely on anything but a full team effort. It’s cliched but it’ll take the whole squad and I’m looking for everybody to step up.
“COVID has made It difficult but those issues are effecting every club and I’m confident our group can overcome every challenge.”
Labrador will relaunch its season against Commercial at Brisbane’s Burringbar Park at 3pm on Saturday.