BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
SUNSHINE Heights’ new coach Mark Anderson is not expecting miracles.
He was well aware of the challenges he was accepting when taking the job, and has set the seemingly modest goal of having a win-loss ratio of above 50 per cent.
If he does achieve this goal in the WRFL Division One competition next season, it would be a vast improvement on the season just gone, where the Dragons finished eighth with four wins.
“It’s going to be a big challenge, no one’s shying away from that, but hopefully we can bring some new players into the club and hopefully bolster what they’ve already got,” said Anderson, who this season co-coached EDFL side Airport West.
“We’re not putting any massive expectations that we’re going to win a grand final or anything like that, because it’s probably not realistic.”
“The biggest challenge is probably going to be implementing a new game plan that’s going to hold up, and getting all players on board for that.
“Depth is a massive issue at the club. All three grades finished down the ladder this year, so that’s what we will be trying to address.”
While Anderson has come from an EDFL competition (playing for Taylors Lakes, Tullamarine and Airport West from 2007 to 2010) which has traditionally boasted a faster, more attacking brand of footy than the WRFL, Anderson said the Dragons will play with a greater focus on defence than it has since coming up to Division One.
“Sunshine Heights got scored against heavily in a lot of games, so there will probably be an emphasis on defence before attack. It obviously depends on the team that I’ve got with me. If I can attract some quality players that may all change, but I think that you’ve got to stop the bleeding before you worry about the healing,” Anderson said.
“There will be a lot of defensive aspect to it, and killing the contest before you worry about attacking.”
Naturally, this has prompted the search for key backmen to join the squad.
“We need to shore up our backline. We’ve got pretty decent ruck and on ball divisions.”
Anderson, who played for the Geelong Amateurs and Geelong West from 1996 to 2004, said he would look to his EDFL contacts to boost the playing list.
“They’re not a big spending club. Unfortunately footy’s gone to that level where you’ve got to spend money to be competitive. Hopefully with the home-grown players that they’ve got, then you chuck a few more in, hopefully we can get competitive in that way. If you’re competitive people are going to come play for less,” Anderson said.
“I’ve got a few players that I’m speaking to at the moment and hopefully we can get a few of them on board, and once you get one or two to commit then it has a roll-on effect.”
