Tara Murray
Albion Football Club is aiming to bring the fun back to the club and it’s paying off in the Western Region Football League.
After struggling in the back half of 2018 and then going winless in 2019, the Cats found themselves in division 2 for 2020.
When the season was cancelled due to COVID-19, it meant they would enter the 2021 season without a win in more than a 1000 days.
While some people predicted it would be tough going again, the Cats broke through for victory last weekend in round four.
Coach James Doherty said it was exciting to get the win on the board. He said they had rebuilt the side twice in the past couple of years, to get to where they are now.
“We knew it was going to come at some point this year,” he said. “And against Glen Orden, which is one of the teams to beat, it’s a reward for effort.
“A lot of these guys have been around for so long playing senior footy and have remained at the club the last couple of years.
“We have struggled the last couple of years, but we’ve done a lot of work.”
Doherty, who was appointed coach for 2020 before the season was cancelled, said he had brought a philosophy which focused on fun first to the club.
He said local football had become too serious and many players were lost to the game because of it.
“We wanted the young guys to come down and enjoy their footy,” he said. “At 18 and 19 life takes over.
“We want to make footy as an escape from life. We’ve said come for a good time and don’t worry about what division we are in. Being around each other and having fun, it helps enormously.
“It might take a little while as we’re a little less fit, but it’s starting to pay off.”
Doherty said as part of the plan, the playing group had helped build the game plan.
He said they had buy-in from the playing group, with a number of former players returning to the club.
“If we stick to it, it will work,” he said.
“The last two weeks we’ve been super competitive. There are no demands on them.
“Week one and then week two, to implement a new tactic. We looked at round four the time that everything started to come together and we would move to the next step.
“Everything is starting to come.”
Doherty said this was just the start of rebuilding the club from the bottom up.
“We’re playing to enjoy playing football, wherever that takes us,” he said. “Division 3 or division 1, we want the club to have success.
“Football should be no different whether you’re 14, 24 or 34. Somewhere along the line it gets too serious.”
The Cats faced Parkside on Saturday. The Magpies proved too strong in the second half, winning 15.10 (100)-9.7 (61).
