WEEBOLLA Bulls first grade coach Peter Copeman says there’s no point in playing if you aren’t aiming to win.
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He thinks his charges have got what it takes to bring home the silverware – and he wants them to have a good time doing it.
“You don’t know what the opposition will be like yet but I’d like to think we’re a chance to win the competition,” he said ahead of the Bulls’ first training session.
“We’ll be very competitive, like we have been over the last couple of years, and we should have a fair bit of depth.”
Copeman said he expected a few new players at the club this year, which kicks off pre-season this Thursday, 6.30pm at Weebolla Oval.
“It’ll be good to have that competition for spots,” he said. “Pressure from below will keep everyone on their toes.”
That pressure was already likely to be applied, even without new arrivals pushing for spots. The reserves successfully defended their Central North title last season, while the first grade slipped from champions to third place.
Copeman said the long season took its toll on his team last year.
“Everyone lacked a bit of enthusiasm by the end of the year, and we had a few injuries as well,” he said.
“This year we’re going to try and start a bit slower and have that enthusiasm at the end of the season.”
The coach said he was hoping to engage his players from word go.
“We’ll keep training as interesting as possible, combining fitness with a bit of ball work as well,” he said. “You gotta keep things interesting.”
He said a reduced season would also play into the Bulls’ favour.
But while the old Bulls prepare to lock horns with their opponents again in 2014, their young clubmates have been put out to paddock.
The club’s under 18 team, which played out of Tamworth’s Farrer Agricultural High School, will not field a team this year.
The seniors kick off their season in mid-April and will play a trial match against Armidale’s Robb College in March as well as another pre-season game, likely to be against Goondiwindi.