Geelong Advertiser |
THE future looks bright at Winter Reserve with the Belmont Lions signing close to 90 per cent of its senior team for 2015 following a superb month of football.
The Lions are full of belief, winning their past four matches after being 1-9 after 10 rounds — a similar situation to last year when the club went on to lose its final 11 matches.
The recent good form underlines the rapid rise of the club and the growing culture within is something coach David McKiernan has been striving for since being appointed at the start of year.
“We’ve signed at this stage 80-90 per cent of the senior team already and that’s really good because it’s the belief that they know we’re heading in the right direction.” McKiernan said.
“One thing I said at the start of the year was I wanted to build a club not just a senior 22. The guys have wanted to stick around, they’re working hard, they’re training hard and I think that’s been a big part in keeping the vibe up. There is that pressure for spots in the seniors and the reserves.”
“We were able to point out the positives on what they had done this year and why they could make the next level. That was probably the big difference from last year when they dropped off.”
McKiernan praised the leadership of key experienced players coming on board for the 2014 season but believed the catalyst for the Lions’ rejuvenation had been the development of leaders from its younger brigade.
James Fisher, Adam Beath and Heath Walsh are just a few of the names to relish the changing culture.
“They’re standing up now, that’s the belief that’s going to keep driving them forward.
“They want it, it’s not just coming out for a kick on a Saturday — they want to see the club succeed. We want to win as many games as we can by the end of the year.”
Belmont will be bolstered for the remainder of the season by valuable mid-season recruits headlined by key forward Greg Seiz and it will also give some senior exposure to its young and promising talents.
McKiernan has high hopes for this core group and was confident they will hold the club in good stead in coming years.