“ACROSS the year we’ve had our challenges, but we kept turning up, and in the end, we’ve missed out on playing in the finals by percentage, a couple of goals over the whole season.”
That was how Wonthaggi coach Jarryd Blair summed up the disappointment of missing out on the finals, after finishing the season in equal 4th place, together with Morwell and Warragul on 11 wins, but 4 per cent behind Warragul in sixth place.
It was the first time the club has missed the finals in four years, but it was an upbeat Blair who addressed the players in the rooms after humbling a third-placed, but heavily undermanned, Moe by 70 points.
The challenges for Wonthaggi have included playing 38 different players in the seniors this year with only three team members; Ryan Sparkes, Jaxon Williams and Cooper McInnes playing all 18 games.
Injuries to the likes of Jakeb Thomas, Shannon Bray, Aiden Lindsay and Fergus O’Connor, plus the limited availability of Ethan Dickinson, Brodie Mabilia and Kyle Reid, were factors but the absences allowed the club to blood a group of promising youngsters and also to give more responsibility to the likes of Jaxon Williams, Noah Anderson, Cooper McInnes, Jarvis Harvey and Jai Williams.
It prompted Blair and his highly-rated assistant coach Tristan Francis to declare that “the foundations have been laid for something special” next year.
“Well done boys, how good was that? The last two weeks should fill us with so much energy, that when you do the basics right, sticking to task and playing our way, you’re opening up space ahead of the ball and getting that sort of result,” said Blair.
“Across the year we’ve had our challenges but we kept turning up. We’re in a competition that is unforgiving when you don’t get it right and we’ve missed finals by percentage, a couple of goals across the season.
“But you’re here because you want to strive to be the best you can be and for the footy club. That’s why we are here in this league.
“Next month, make sure we stick together as a footy club. We’ve got the Bs and Cs and also reserves in and it’s our chance to show them the sort of support that they’ve been giving us.
“Spend time together and get around them and enjoy each other’s company. Lot of times before you get sustained success, your reserves do well, which is next Sunday at Wonthaggi.
“I don’t want to individualise because across the year everyone has stood up when they’ve needed to,” he said.
The team’s captain, Josh Bates who was also missing through injury on Saturday said it was great to see the growth coming out of the reserves and juniors.
Tristan Francis agreed.
“It’s disappointing not to be there but we’ve had a lot of young blokes come through and there’s a lot to build on next year. It’s exciting looking forward. If we all stick together, we’ve got a lot to look forward to,” said Francis.
Jarryd finished on the same positive note.
“We’ve got the foundations laid for something special. See this as an opportunity to recharge your batteries. I feel like we’ve been working been hard for the past five years but when the whips are cracking, in November, we want to remember the past two weeks, the fun we’ve hard, and what it takes to be ready to snap those goals, slip the tackles and get into the clear.”
Wins over premiership contenders Traralgon, while severely undermanned earlier in the year, and lately Leongatha and Moe have been undoubted high points but a one-point loss to Warragul in round one and a soul-destroying defeat by Drouin last month were decisive.
