AFTER welcoming a host of new players in the senior side last year, Natimuk United is in a better place in 2018 to make a deep run into finals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
“We had a lot of new guys last year, probably about 10, so we were learning how everyone moves and plays,” Anson said.
“Now we have that bit more respect for them so I think we will gel better as a team. The improvement should come in the way we play as a team.”
With some new recruits in assistant coach Gary Hallam, Jaydon Stiles, Jack Ford and Sam Hennessy, the Rams have also added some more depth into their squad.
“We have been pretty lucky and haven’t lost any players,” Anson said.
“We are in a good position and we have a lot more depth this year with past players coming back.”
Natimuk United finished sixth last season and Anson hopes the side can go further this year.
“We want to be playing finals and go one better this year,” he said.
“We squeezed into finals from sixth last season, so if we can get top five this year that would be an improvement for us.
“I’m excited to see where we are at. It will be a challenge this year with the competition being so even. We will put ourselves out there and see where we are at and if we have been going hard enough this season.”
Natimuk United start its season at home to Noradjuha-Quantong on April 7.
Q and A with Sam Anson
Q: Who will you be looking to have a big year?
I’ll be looking for our forward line players to step up this year, so Nathan Koenig, Alex Ridsdale and Wil Ridsdale. We hope they can kick a few goals. Alex Dwyer down back we also expect to have a big year.
Will there be many new faces in the line-up come round one?
We will have a couple of juniors in Zach Smith and Riley Jervis coming up. Sam Hennessy from Dimboola is also new to the squad.
How will your coaching style change this year?
My coaching style won’t change but I’ll be adding some depth about things to try and develop the team a bit more.