When your whole club swears off beer for two months and one of your corporate backers happens to be the local "rubbedy-dub", questions tend to be asked.But as South Bendigo's playing coach Rick Coburn says, it has been 15 years since the club last won a Bendigo premiership and to do it, sacrifices must be made.
"It actually wasn't my call. The boys enforced that two or three weeks ago," he said. "We've worked hard. We're one win away from taking top spot and earning a place in the second-semi. The stakes could not be higher."
He says there will be plenty of time to do some "catching up" at their local, the Queen's Arms, south of the city, but not until after the very last siren.
"We just hope that we can be there on Grand Final day and that it can go our way. But first we have to beat Castlemaine at Castlemaine to ensure top spot and get a week's break. That's our priority right now."
With a win-loss record of 15/2 in the firsts and 17/0 in the reserves, South Bendigo has had a stellar season. There have been 40 and sometimes 50 at almost every training session and coming into September and some finer weather, the tempo has lifted, the expectations are high.
Coburn says places in Grand Finals, no matter the League, are hard to earn.
Asked where the improvement has come this year for South Bendigo, he says the team's defensive efforts in shutting down opposing sides has been a cornerstone in their run at top place.
"We've conceded 300-400 points less than everyone else this year. The backline has been sensational," he said.
"Boys like Leigh Rees, Julian Lake, Michael Leech and Brad Wright have all been around now for a few years. They are disciplined and consistent."
Wright is just 22 and Leech 20 but are playing with the aplomb and poise of veterans.
The team also has an excellent midfield with Dayne Frew being reliable up forward. "He's our main avenue to goal, but we do like to share things around," Coburn said.
Asked the areas of importance entering the final home-and-away match at Castlemaine this weekend, Coburn said he and the match committee were big on planning and research and knew the opposition's best players and set up their strategies accordingly.
"It's all about getting your match-ups right," he said.
"They (Castlemaine) have a good set of midfielders and are strong up forward. It's also their 150th year so they'll be wanting to finish off strongly. We go in heavily researched. If we can hold their good players and get good contributions across the whole ground we should be good enough ( to win).
"But it's a matter of really being switched-on on the day
"A lot is riding on the game for us. Having a week off to fresh up at this time of the year would be great."
Coach since 2007, Coburn is originally from Swan Hill where he was involved at Nyah Nyah West United.
Now teaching in Bendigo, he says you can't afford to take anything for granted in football.
"It is almost as if another season is about to start," he says.
"It's spring, the finals are on and the other teams are coming at you. Hopefully we're going to be ready."
The club's two losses this year were against Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat, who are both in the mix to go deep into September.
He says he won't be changing game plans for the finals.
"Each year I go down to the national (coach's) conference and you do learn a few things. But at the same time (keeping it) simple is usually better. It takes everyone to be on the same page on the same day to be effective (and win). That's our aim."
South Bendigo travel to Castlemaine on Saturday for their final qualifying match before this year's Bendigo League finals.
By Ken Piesse
Article first published 19 August, 2009
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|