CHRIS Tankard has had plenty of time to reflect on the season that was for Coburg Districts in 2018.
It was a disappointing one in the end, given the Lions failed to make the finals after getting to the grand final the previous year.
Despite only winning seven games from 18, the Lions’ percentage remained surprisingly above 100.
Burnside Heights finished with the same record at 7-11, yet its percentage was 31 per cent shy of Coburg Districts’.
When asked why the Lions had dropped off the finals pace, Tankard’s response was quick and to the point.
“We had a distinct lack of on-field leadership and it cost us six of the seven tight games we lost,” he told essendondfl.com.au.
“We lost because of that lack of on-field presence.
“In the four games where we had our best midfield assembled, we won comfortably, so that had a little bit to do with it.
“But it was more down to our inability to prepare. Guys would find ways not to come to training, take little short cuts here and there and I think they thought that eventually it would all just snap together.
“We’d have a good two weeks and then we’d drop off for two weeks.”
Coburg Districts’ summer of recruiting has specifically addressed that issue.
Tom Gleeson, CJ Grampsas and Paris Grampsas all crossed over from East Keilor and have had an immediate positive impact on the culture of the playing group.
Numbers at training have improved and the overall buy-in is the best it has ever been, according to Tankard.
“In this division, it’s a real battle trying to get guys to get to training,” Tankard explained.
“But this year we’ve had 90 per cent of our core 35 train every night.
“There’s a real push from the group to get stuck into people who missed training - and that didn’t happen last year.”
Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 has become a quicker on-field product in recent seasons and Tankard has been conscious of the changing trends occurring within the division.
He identified leg speed and youth as key areas for improvement in 2019.
Ben Fisher and Michael Osterman are two arrivals that will give the Lions some more bounce, but there could be a few more to come before Round 1.
“It’s a much quicker, cleaner brand of footy,” Tankard said.
“We jumped on (Fisher and Osterman) pretty quickly because we don’t obviously have access to those 19-year-olds.
“We’re talking to a couple of kids out at St Bernards who are 19 and may not get the opportunity to play senior footy there but may get an opportunity with us.
“You need leg speed and youth and everyone’s game style has evolved from when I first got here.
“We used to get away with playing amateur footy, which was get it and go, and we didn’t have good enough personnel.
“Now everyone plays a really strong, fluid game style and it’s very hard to coach against.”
RECRUITING
In: Tom Gleeson (midfielder, East Keilor), Con Grampsas (midfielder, East Keilor), Paris Grampsas (key defender, East Keilor), Ben Fisher (midfielder, Moonee Valley), Michael Osterman (defender, Moonee Valley), Jake Busuttil-Poskitt* (defender, Roxburgh Park) & Mitchell Caddy (forward, Melton Centrals)
Out: Nick Georgeades (retired), Dan Campbell (retired) & Alex Johnson (Essendon Doutta Stars)
*Transfer pending
2019 DRAW
