By Caitlin Arnold
With Round One of Season 2014 five weeks away, pre-season training is well on track at the UTS Bats.
Looking to improve on their eighth placing in 2013, club President Nick Haslam has expressed the club’s desire to excel under new Senior Coach and former UTS captain, Alan Kymantas and their new Assistant Coach Ben Moore, also a past UTS player.
"Pre-season training is going brilliantly. We have record numbers and there is a good atmosphere at the club. Under our new coaching staff, we are focusing on building a stronger club culture, adhering to our club values and working on our fitness for 2014."
This weekend marks the Bats annual pilgrimage to the Kurnell Dunes, a team bonding exercise that not only looks to improve on their players fitness, but also bring a sense of mateship through physical and mental hardship.
Like previous years there has been an influx of inbound transfers to the Bats and this year it appears to be arguably the best crop to come to the club judging by the already approved clearances. Some high profile recruits from Victoria and South Australia head the impressive list and much interest surrounds their impact on the competition.
While we will have to wait till Round 1 to see the new recruits in action, Haslam names James Caica and Morgan Davis as the men to watch this season.
"James has been doing some excellent gut running and shows great endurance and Morgan continues to improve on his 2013 form."
With only four points separating both teams in each of the two games played last year – both coming away with a win a piece – Haslam names North Shore as the team to beat in 2014. While it is acknowledged that reigning champions Manly-Warringah will go in favourites, Haslam finds it difficult to deny the likely Bombers outfit, expressing that they have found them consistently competitive over the past few years.
As the wheels are well and truly turning on the field ahead of the 2014 season, Haslam also spoke with great excitement for the growth of the club. Along with the record numbers that are partaking in pre-season training, UTS are also thrilled to have on board a number of sponsors including Eakin McCaffrey Cox Lawyers, Audi Centre Sydney, The Light Brigade Hotel and Mad Pizza Bondi.
"We are so happy to have all of our sponsors backing up the group. Every little bit helps when maintaining a local club…it is also is great to know that we have a place to carbo-load the night before a big game," Haslam jokes.
Along with their sponsors, the Bats have also welcomed their women’s team, the UTS Shamrocks, into their training group. For the first time, the Shamrocks and the Bats are training alongside each other, joining in on the same drills and sharing the same facilities and sponsors.
"We love the Shamrocks. We love working with them."
Haslam is quick to note that the Shamrocks are playing a major part both in the growth of the club and the evolution of the Premier Division squad. By combining the two UTS entities, the aim is to not only improve club spirit and on-ground success, but to also make the club more attractive to different types of people who may have overlooked AFL as an interest in the past.
Haslam also encourages these new fans to join the Shamrocks at their Open Day at Trumper Park on 9 March 2014, where the UTS Bats will also be out in force to support their female club counterparts.
The UTS Bats Premier Division season kicks off on Saturday, 29 March 2014 at 2pm against local rivals, UNSW/ES Bulldogs.
A full list of transfers in and out of each club along with the AFL Sydney predictions will follow for each team commencing Monday 10th March.
Last Modified on 26/02/2014 20:10
