Geelong Advertiser |
JASON Armistead has spoken of his plans to create a fitter Anglesea that remains competitive and stronger for longer.
The four-time South Barwon best-and-fairest winner was unveiled as the club’s new coach this week on a two-year deal.
Armistead likes what he sees at Alcoa Oval and isn’t planning wholesale changes.
Instead, he will continue to promote the club’s strong junior policy and hopes to bolster the side with a key forward and midfielder or two.
“We just want to improve, really,” Armistead said.
“We’ve got to stay competitive in games for longer so we can give ourselves the opportunity to win games.
“We’ll make sure our fitness is at a higher standard to what it was this year and maybe a few other little tweaks.
“Hopefully those things get us thereabouts.”
The Roos finished eighth in the BFL this season and their reserves went within a kick of the preliminary final.
Armistead, a former champion midfielder, is a member of South Barwon’s and Colac’s teams of the decade and has refined his coaching knowledge in recent times under mentors including Warwick Knuckey, Matthew Scarlett, Ron Watt and Mick Atkins.
He was a development coach at South Barwon this year and was also an assistant coach at Geelong College.
Armistead has already met senior players Ryan Dahlhaus, Tom Midolo, Brett Cunningham and Sam Dangerfield, and will reach most of the list by the end of the month.
“(Lucas) Murphy put in place some good things, particularly last year, and had to work pretty hard in his first year,” Armistead said.
“I’ll just be trying to build on the foundations he put in place. I’m not going in there to change too much, just to keep building what’s there.
“Last year they were reasonably competitive in most games and hopefully we can be competitive for longer in every game and give ourselves the best chance of winning more games.”