Tara Murray
New Albanvale coach Nick Smith has stripped things back as the club tries to take that next step in the Western Region Football League division 3.
After being knocked out of the finals in straight sets after losing just one game in the regular season last season, the Cobras want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen again this year.
Smith said the pre-season had been very different for the playing group.
“They did a lot of learning in the pre-season,” he said. “I have a different view on footy than the previous coaches.
“They’ve almost had to try and step back and learn everything. We want to play a different brand of football.
“Players often go through the motions in pre-season. We know it is not about winning now.
“We’re focusing on the game plan, structure and rationale.”
Smith said the group had shown positive signs in the pre-season that they were on the right track with the game plan.
He said the group had been really excited for round one, but much of that work was thrown out the window when they were confronted with wet and windy conditions.
Smith said he had never seen a first round of the season like that with the conditions brutal on the players.
“The game plan went out of the way along with structures. It was about just getting the win,” he said.
The Cobras led by three points at half time against Sunshine Heights, before kicking away in the second half to win, 12.16 (88)-8.11 (59).
Smith said he was proud of how the group adapted in the second half.
“We tried to play dry footy in the first half,” he said.
“The players trusted me in the second half and they didn’t panic and followed instructions and did all the team things.
‘They were able to adapt to the conditions and play a simpler brand of footy. We’ll get a lot out of the result.”
The one negative out of the match was an injury for David Ranno. Ranno, who played out the game with a punctured kidney, could be out for the season after having surgery.
Smith said the recruit had been almost their best player in the pre-season.
The team that took to the field for the Cobras was different to last year, with six debutants who had crossed from other clubs.
Smith said he had been keen to reward those who had done the hard work in the pre-season, which meant there were some surprises at the selection table.
“I didn’t play anyone that didn’t do enough of the pre-season,” he said.
“The league best and fairest winner [Liam Montrose] played in the twos. We had a strong twos team.
“Being a new coach, I’m a new set of eyes on them. The responses have been really good.”
Montrose responded with a best on ground performance in the reserves. Smith said his response had been really good.
The Cobras had a bye on the weekend.
