By LIAM TWOMEY
DEER Park president Mark McGoldrick believes his side’s amazing 2013 premiership victory over Spotswood came ahead of schedule.
The Lions’ hierarchy initially aimed to win a final this year, make a grand-final by 2014 and then, hopefully win the Division 1 premiership in 2015.
However, it is now just over one month ago that Deer Park coach Marc Bullen and captain Chris Stewart stood on the podium at Chirnside Park with the premiership cup aloft.
In scary news for the rest of the competition, McGoldrick said the club is still yet to peak.
“We are certainly still pinching ourselves for winning that game that’s for sure,” he said.
“All the stars aligned for us in the last 45 minutes and we were lucky enough to get the points.
“To win this year really was a bonus for us. We have got things in place and over the next two or three years we think we will see our club peak as a club in itself. ”
After recruiting a host of big names to the club for the 2013 season, rumours have again been circling that the Lions would be major players in the off-season.
But McGoldrick was quick to hose down the speculation.
“There will be no real massive changes from our point of view,” McGoldrick said.
“Unfortunately, Sam Hunt will be doubtful. He is having a little bit of trouble with his body. Other than that there might be one or two changes. The list that played in the grand final will basically be around.
“We haven’t targeted any big names. Obviously we targeted Andrew Lovett this year. It was an experiment that went wrong. If I’m guilty of giving a guy a second chance then I am happy to be guilty of that. Unfortunately it didn’t work.”
To no surprise, the Lions have also re-appointed premiership coach Bullen for the 2014 season.
“We have a lot of faith in Marc,” McGoldrick said.
“He is getting towards 30-31 (years old) and we are hoping to give him a bit of success. He has aspirations to go high as a coach and we hope he leaves us with a good record which gives him the opportunity to coach at a higher level. Marc was great for the club both on and off the ground.”
