Palm Beach Sharks coach Grae Piddick believes his team have learned lessons from their first season in the National Premier Leagues and will prove more competitive in 2014.

Despite tempering expectations regarding finals football this season, Piddick said the Gold Coast-based Sharks were looking to establish a club culture that will lay the foundations for future success in the NPL.

Early pre-season form suggests Piddick’s plan is already gaining momentum, with Sharks conceding with the final kick of the game to draw 1-1 with Redlands United on Saturday in the Macron Cup at AJ Kelly Park in Redcliffe.

Speaking post-match, Piddick layed out his plans for the season ahead, saying, “At this stage, the aim is just to do better than last year.”

“We need to sort out and organise our style of play and see where that takes us,” he explained further.

“I expect us to be more competitive but whether we are finals material is hard to say right now.”

Piddick said one of the challenges facing Sharks was overcoming the party-town mentality of the Gold Coast region.

“It’s difficult with the culture down there on the Gold Coast in getting the right players in with the right mentality.”

“That’s what we’re looking and searching for – players that really want to commit, put the effort in and improve.”

“There definitely is that culture that we have to try to break through and it will take time but we are working towards that.”

Piddick has recruited two players from the local Gold Coast Premier League to his squad for the upcoming campaign to complement a core of last year’s stand out performers and promoted youngsters.

“Troy Ruthven, who played for Murwillumbah last year, and Daniel Dragicevic from Burleigh, were two of the best players on the coast last year.”

“We’ve picked them up and they’ve played well today with Troy scoring the goal,” he said.

Piddick also confirmed that Justyn McKay will once again wear the captain’s arm band this season.

“Justyn is the core of the team, he’s the leader. He’s a class player and he’s good enough to be in any of the NPL top sides and he will really lead the side.”

He also pointed to former Gold Coast United youth player Chris Lucas, who top scored for Sharks with 14 goals last season, as the main weapon in front of goal.

“We’re certainly looking for Chris to score some goals for us but there’s a little bit of a change to how he plays this year,” Piddick explained.

“We’ll probably see him play a bit more through the middle and we’ll be looking to capitalise on his speed and sharpness around the box.”

Piddick took the reins at Sharks midway through last season following the departure of Oscar Langone, and said a full pre-season with his own squad will produce better results.

“It was difficult last year coming in with a side that was already there and, quite frankly, wasn’t good enough.”

“We’re still trying to improve the side. The majority of the players are still young players but that’s how we have to work.”

Piddick added the squad are already looking forward to this year’s inaugural FFA Cup knock-out competition.

“Some of the boys have already been talking about it,” he said excitedly.

“We’re pretty happy to be playing in that and it’ll be interesting to see how go against the winning Gold Coast team.”

“I’m sure that will be a fiery match – there’s no love lost between teams on the Gold Coast and we’re looking forward to it.”

 

Words & Image: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)