Tara Murray
New Albion coach Blake Richards wants the current playing group to have the same memories of the club as he does.
Richards returns to the club where he played more than 300 games and was part of the 2012 premiership team.
For the new coach, the allure of helping out his former club was what attracted him to the coaching role.
“I played juniors at the club and I live down the street,” he said. “My mum is a life member here and my dad played there.
“I went to Caroline Springs for eight years. It was good to be at a different club and get a different perspective.
“I’ve learned a fair bit and I’ll look to bring that back to Albion.”
Richards said there had been massive support from the playing group and committee with pre-season to start next week.
He said they had retained this year’s list and added about 15 players.
Richards said having seen them play a couple of times this year, there was a really good base to build from.
“What they were producing was pretty impressive,” he said. “JD [James Doherty] did a really good job and got a good list together that they were playing for each other.”
Richards has looked to reinforce the coaching staff with 10 people across various roles to help benefit the club more.
On field, they’ve looked to strengthen the playing stocks.
A ruckman was the main void they were looking to field. They managed to sign two.
Connor Ramsay and Caleb Docherty join the club while Connor McPherson, Josh Michetti and Jason Butina return to the club having played elsewhere in recent years.
Richards said his focus this season was about continuing to get the club in the right direction.
The club finished sixth this year.
“I don’t care about personal development in my coaching,” he said.
“I want to help out Albion so they have the memories from the club that I have, I want to help out as much as possible.
“There’s the opportunity to improve. Wins and losses I don’t care too much about, it’s the brand and perception by the WRFL and the opposition.”
The hard work behind the scenes has flowed on into the junior program. The club will have both standalone under-16s and under-18s for the first time in a number of years.
They will have boys sides from under-8s through to under-18s and are set to increase from one girls team to two girls teams.
Richards said it was massive for the club, with juniors a key role for any senior club.
The club had a meet the coach day on the weekend, with Richards ready to get to work.
“All the players are keen to have a real fitness base,” he said.
“The last three to four years, it’s been about getting numbers and getting people enjoying footy with it being COVID-19.
“We’ll look to have a big pre-season and get a fitness base before Christmas and be more structure based after Christmas.”
