Sunshine George Cross had to deal with a series of departures and injuries this season, including the a hip injury to Michael Kelly. 81620 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
IT is tough to accurately gauge whether Sunshine George Cross got the most out of its 2012 campaign.
Undefeated after their first five rounds, the Georgies finished eighth in the 12-team State League Division One competition, much lower than they had hoped for.
However, when you consider the extent of injuries that hit the club, the midseason departures of key strikers Tom Cahill and Chris Greechan and a promising State Knockout Cup semi final appearance, 2012 wasn’t a complete write-off.
Coach Tony Ciantar said it took a while for the club to adapt after key midfielder Michael Kelly suffered a season-ending hip injury halfway through the year.
“We couldn’t replace him and we just went on a bad run,” Ciantar said.
“We had three or four injuries that cost us dearly in that middle patch, and then in the latter part of the season we found our way again and finished off quite strongly.”
Club president Darren Farrugia told Star the preseason aim was to finish in the top five, but Ciantar said the goal in his first year as coach was to simply avoid relegation.
“The club is pretty ambitious and they want to get promoted every opportunity they can, but it’s not that easy,” Ciantar said.
“Getting promotion either means you’ve got to pay for big name players or build for the future, and my job was to build for the future.”
It was for that reason the State Knockout Cup result was so important.
“The good thing about the Cup was we got to play a lot of our younger players and give them opportunities,” Ciantar said.
“It’s hard when you’re playing for match points and you’re in the position we were in.
“It made it difficult to bleed these players through, but the Cup gave us the opportunity to bleed these players for the future.”
The Georgies are backing that younger brigade to push its rise back up the table in 2013, but Farrugia revealed new measures would now be put in place.
“We’re reasonably confident that he will stay on,” Farrugia said when asked if Ciantar would coach next season.
“Obviously a few changes need to be made but as long as Tony’s happy with it I can’t see it as a problem.
“I just think we need to have a committee on selecting the team week in week out, and maybe include an extra coach.”
“You need to expand on your coaching staff nowadays. You need a technical coach (and) you need a fitness coach.”
