SMYTHESDALE football coach Glenn Treacy knows he’s got a task on his hands, but remains confident the club can return to the winner’s circle in season 2014.
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Treacy, who was appointed to the helm in September last year, says it is not simply about breaking the Bulldogs’ 49-match losing streak, but becoming competitive in the Central Highlands Football League and then winning games, plural.
“It would be great for our club to win games and this is the attitude I’ve wanted to make sure the club has had,” he said.
“It’s not about winning a game. It’s making sure we are competitive and winning games.
“If you take that mentality (only trying to break a drought), it’s not a good base to come into a season.”
Treacy said there had been good numbers during pre-season training.
Training resumes following the Christmas-New Year break on Monday.
He said there had also been a high turnover of players within the club’s senior playing list, but was pleased that many of the talented juniors had remained loyal.
Treacy said it was important the youth was the focus of recruiting and promotion.
“They become part of your culture, part of the leadership group, captains and vice-captains. They are the guys that hang around for club functions.
“It’s all about creating club culture,” he said.
“We felt if we got one or two big-name players, we didn’t believe they give us club culture and the long-term success that the club needed.”
The club’s re-branding from Illabarook to Smythesdale last year has also seen the introduction of new playing jumpers, with the Bulldogs opting away from their original blue with a white V to a design resembling Port Adelaide’s former AFL guernsey.
tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au
