North Sunshine’s new coach Rick Charles. 75020 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
BY ADEM SARICAOGLU
NEW North Sunshine coach Rick Charles has vowed the struggling Roadrunners will have a new attitude going into the 2012 season.
Charles will take over the WRFL club that has not won a senior game in three seasons, including a record-breaking 401-point loss to Albanvale in May 2010.
Charles said he hoped a fresh mentality from his playing group would lift the Roadrunners to a win next year.
“We just want them to get excited about playing good footy again,” Charles said.
“We want to let everyone know we’re on our way back, but (the players) need to start believing in themselves first.”
Charles took over the senior role having spent the past four seasons as an assistant at the struggling club.
“I’ve been wanting to coach the seniors for about four years now so I’m pretty stoked to have the opportunity.”
Charles said the emphasis had been on fitness since the start of pre-season training, and he’d noticed a vast improvement.
“I’m watching this group, and they’ve been improving out of sight considering a lot of them are only kids.
“We’re just going to make sure we’re fit and ready to go for next year.”
Charles added he was hoping to inject a mixture of tall players and nuggetty midfielders that “we hope will add some speed and agility” to the group, but said it was too early to reveal the full extent of those recruiting processes.
“We’re sort of focusing on looking for more athletes right now.
“A couple of those guys come from basketball backgrounds and so far they’re showing a lot of promise.”
The division two wooden-spooners conceded 3325 points and scored only 477 of their own this year, leaving them with a dismal percentage of 14.35, while the reserves could only manage 5.06 per cent.
Although the league has remained stagnant on expanding into a third division to reduce blowouts, Charles said he was happy to remain in division two going forward.
“For now the focus is playing that one football game, whether the final margin is one point or 15 goals, as long as it’s us with that lead.” Charles said
Charles described his new role as one that required him to be more of a mentor for the young playing group, but reiterated his main goal was to restore the club’s on-field reputation.
“I hope the community can get away from our recent results and look forward to what’s next.
“You’ll see a very different North Sunshine Football Club next year.” he said.
Charles moved from Tasmania after playing in the NTFL in 1999 and joined North Footscray, before moving to the Roadrunners four years ago.
He will be North Sunshine’s third coach since Darryl Craig took them to their last victory in 2008.
