Border Mail |
YARRAWONGA will be without master co-coach Chris Kennedy for today’s crunch clash with Lavington.
He’s taking a family holiday in Vietnam but coaching partner Drew Barnes isn’t concerned.
Yarrawonga’s playing coach said it wasn’t ideal but nothing other than the obvious would be different about the Pigeons this afternoon.
“Our systems are in place and it’s business as usual,” he said.
Kennedy is on a family holiday in Vietnam and doesn’t return until early next week.
It’s yet another untimely blow for the Pigeons, who today will also be without coaching predecessor Craig Ednie, as well as former AFL-listed players Steve McKee and Luke Hammond.
“Obviously Chris won’t be there but we’ve got full faith in the guys on the bench,” Barnes said.
“My role on the ground won’t change at all.
“We’ve learned by now there’s no point me trying to make moves and coach while I’m out on the field.
“I’ll leave it to the guys in the box.”
Yarrawonga assistants Lee Fraser and Noel Skehan will pick up Kennedy’s slack.
Both were instrumental in Yarrawonga’s premiership assault last season.
But the absence of Kennedy, regarded as one of the best football brains in country Victoria, cannot be understated.
Kennedy, who alongside Barnes took over from Ednie after the 2010 season, calls the shots on match day and does almost all of the speaking at the end of each quarter.
Barnes, who has started the year in red-hot form, admitted he would have to step up in that department today.
“I’ve done a little bit more preparation but really we’ve tried to keep it as normal as possible,” he said.
“We’ve been working on the same game plan for nearly a year-and-a-half now. The guys know what we want from them.”
Barnes said Yarrawonga was viewing today’s vastly different line-up in a positive light.
“Personally, I’m really excited for the guys who are getting an opportunity. It sparks excitement.”
Tim Hargeaves will today play his first game for the Pigeons since the 2009 grand final.
