The chance to end the Deer Park dynasty in the Western Region Football League was one of the big attractions for new Sunshine coach Adam Contessa.
The former Western Bulldog was named as coach of the Kangaroos last week, joining the club after successful coaching stints in the Essendon District Football League with Pascoe Vale and Airport West, including a premiership in 2012.
After Sunshine played off with Deer Park in the 2017 WRFL decider, Contessa said the challenge of knocking off the six-time reigning champs was his greatest motivation.
“A big part of me taking on this role was the challenge that Deer Park presents and the opportunity that’s there,” he said.
“I know some people from Deer Park that have been there since they started on this journey they’re on, so from a coaching perspective and a club perspective, I want to be involved in the team that takes that mantle off them.
“It’s an individual and a collective challenge, and would be an incredible achievement to be that group that can move the goal posts and take it away from them.”
Contessa played 45 AFL games between 1997 and 2001, and said his experience on the big stage, coupled with many years coaching in local leagues, would stand him in good stead in this role.
Above all else, he wanted to make Sunshine a hungry side.
“I think it’s really important to be a contested ball team, you’ve got to win the ball,” he said.
“It’s all good having systems and set plays, and a way you want to move the ball, but if you don’t have the ball in your hands all that can go out the door.
“We’ll do a big pre-season to make the boys aware that they’ve got to win their own ball, and then the rest we’ll work on as we go.
“You watch big finals at any level and they’re tough, uncompromising games, and generally the best defensive sides come out on top so that’s a big focus for us, to be as competitive on the defensive end as we can.”
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