Steely belief steers Joeys to greatness
OUTGOING St Joseph’s coach Heath Jamieson has spoken of the steely inner belief that spurred his side on to a third GFL premiership in four years, after the nine-point triumph over St Mary’s.
Coaching his last game for the club after announcing his departure mid-year, Jamieson said internal drive among the St Joseph’s playing group continuously lifted the team to great heights.
“It’s an incredible achievement from a group of players who refuse to give in,” Jamieson said.
“No one expected us to be in the position we are right now, and I guess when people say you can’t do stuff, it internally motivates me big time.
“I don’t know whether we’ve got the credit we deserve for winning three out of the last four flags.”
Patchy form following Jamieson’s announcement, coupled with a 51-point qualifying final loss to St Mary’s, did nothing to silence the doubters, but Jamieson always knew their “product stands up in big games”.
“People were entitled to think we were gone, but it’s the inner belief and the game style we know stands up in big games and every week, whether we’re playing Lara or St Mary’s,” he said.
“That product stands up in big games and I’ve always said that to the boys.
“It doesn’t matter how we’re going throughout the year, you’ve just got to get there and know your product is going to stand up.”
Jamieson’s six-year tenure has produced St Joseph’s greatest ever sustained period of success in the GFL, leaving the club with a 90-32 win-loss record and arguably one of the best sides to ever compete in the league, with seven players now three-time premiership stars.
“It was all going back to what we know,” said Jamieson, who still hasn’t made his future movements known.
“People talk about that first final — we didn’t have (Josh) Hovey in the ruck because he wasn’t right to go, he’s had bone on bone in his groins and he was only going to be able to play three big games for us.
“We never had our back six, we never had (Jackson) McLachlan in the side.
“There’s a couple of players who have come into the side who help, but it’s just belief.”