MAROOCHY-Northshore's James Page is keen to put a disastrous 2011 season behind him as the Roos look to turn promise into points next year.
Sidelined for most of last season after breaking his leg and tearing ankle ligaments in round four, Page was on the training paddock last week when the Roos began their preparation for next season.
The 25-year-old, who is entering his sixth season with the club, yesterday admitted to feeling great frustration while watching from the sideline as a youthful Roos side struggled throughout 2011.
The team finished second last on the ladder after recording only two wins.
But Page, the 2011 co-captain, said that last season was very much a rebuilding period for the club after a number of players left.
"We sort of struggled a bit last season. We had a lot of young guys, up and coming guys," he said.
"It (the youth push) will start paying off coming into this year and going forward the next few years.
"All the young players in there last season will start coming through."
While 2011 was a tough year for the Roos, Page said the side took a lot of heart out of its season-ending win over Coolangatta Tweed Heads.
And although he is predicting a ladder climb in 2012, he is reluctant to speculate on whether that will translate into a finals berth.
Still, he said the "massive" improvement in the side over the course of last season had everyone at the club pumped heading into 2012.
"I really think we can aim to win a bunch more games than last year," he said. "We really finished off last year positively."
On continuing his captaincy role in 2012, Page said he would be happy to remain in the position but no decision had been made.
Roos president Craig Scrase said some "very strong" off-season recruitment activity at the club had generated plenty of interest, with "specific player types" being added to a developing list of home-grown talent.
Scrase said there had also been a shake-up of the coaching panel, with Kent Weightman, Matt Elkington and Phil Rowe joining head coach Roger Delaney.
He labelled the new coaching panel as one of the club's strongest in recent years.
Anyone interested in helping to coach the under-18s is encouraged to contact the club.
Last Modified on 07/01/2013 12:29
