Border Mail |
OUT of contract Wangaratta Rovers coach Mick Caruso expects his future at the club to be sorted before the end of the season.
Caruso, who is in his third year as coach of the Hawks, would not reveal his plans moving forward but said he did not intend to wait until after the season had finished to have that decision finalised.
Caruso had his contract extended by a year after he took the Hawks to last season’s preliminary final just a year after almost claiming the wooden spoon.
“We’ll sit down at the right time,” Caruso said.
“I’d expect it to be done before season’s end so we can have some certainty going forward.”
The Hawks take on North Albury tomorrow in what shapes as the preview to this year’s elimination final.
Caruso said he wasn’t placing too much emphasis on the mental advantage just a month out from finals.
“It looks that way, at the moment, that we’ll play them in an elimination final but stranger things have happened,” he said.
“We’re just going into this game endeavouring to beat another side in the top-five.
“We’ve only done that once this season, against North Albury.”
Rovers won a dour contest at the W.J. Findlay Oval when the sides last met in round 6 and Caruso said he expected another tight encounter this week.
“It was a bit of a defensive slog in perfect conditions and I’d say it will be a similar style again,” he said.
“There will probably be a few more goals on the smaller ground.
“Hopefully we can kick a few more goals because that’s been a concern of ours. We haven’t been putting enough scoreboard pressure on.”
Toby Ryan will be forced to earn his place back in the senior line-up after returning from a mid-season trip to America.
Ryan has been named in the Hawks’ reserves.
Youngsters Alex Marklew and Cody Schutt both came into the Hawks’ line-up last night, as did Jedd Larkin.
Dale Martin (injured), John Conroy and Mitch Booth (omitted) come out.
