Having experienced the heartache of two consecutive Grand Final losses, Parkside coach Peter Dean says his side still has the hunger to go one better in 2012.
After losing a low-scoring Grand Final to Hurstbridge in 2010, the Devils gave up a seven-goal lead in this year’s premiership decider to fall to a 23-point defeat at the hands of South Morang.
Dean said his side was using the hurt of this year’s Grand Final disappointment as motivation during its pre-season campaign.
“I’ve noticed a difference in the boys this year compared with last year already,’’ he said.
“In 2010 they sort of hoped they’d win it, whereas last year even though South Morang had beaten us three times we believed in ourselves and we showed what we could do on the day to be up by seven goals.
“Sometimes the real heartbreak of losses like that can really fire up a side, especially when you’re up by so much but end up getting run over.’’
Nearly 40 players have been attending the first two weeks of pre-season training, an increase of more than 30 per cent on last season’s attendance.
Dean said the significant increase in numbers at training signaled that everyone at Parkside has the resolve to better the efforts of the past two years, and re-emulate the success of 2009 when the club won the inaugural Division 3 premiership.
Ultimately it was a lack of fitness and depth that cost Parkside from claiming this year’s flag and the club is spending the off season addressing both issues.
“Brave efforts don’t get you premierships,” Dean said.
“You have to do the hard work all through the pre-season and (the players) know that now and it’s pretty much up to the players to atone for that.
“Our focus in pre-season now is to get that fitness base and have everyone pick up their fitness 15-20 per cent on what it was last pre-season.”
Given its reserves team didn’t win a game in 2011 and without an under 19s team to provide young talent, Dean said Parkside was looking to recruit heavily to ensure the club could cover its stars should the injury curse strike again next year.
Throughout the course of this season the Devils lost key players Andy Bennett, Robbie Wise and Justin Ross to injury for prolonged periods and the club simply had no cover in their absence.
“A lack of depth probably cost us in the end,’’ he said.
“We just couldn’t cover our injuries and probably our main focus during pre-season is to recruit five to ten players to help out our depth.”
Despite the club’s cruel run with injuries, Dean refused to use it as an excuse for the club’s Grand Final failure and said the club would look to field an under 19s team by 2013 to further strengthen its playing stocks.
“We blame the lack of depth at the club more than anything.
“We believe our top 6-8 players are as good as any in the comp, if not better, but our bottom 6-8 struggle if anything.
“Having an under 19s team will make it a lot easier in the future years, not having to go out and recruit five or six decent players a year. Hopefully they’ll come through our juniors instead.’’
Dean revealed he has had three meetings with former Reservoir and Fitzroy Stars forward, Darren Turner, who booted nine goals against Parkside in Round 16.
He said negotiations had gone well and it was now just up to both parties to “get a couple of little things right’’ before Turner joined the Devils.
It would a big coup for the club and would give it the most damaging forward duo in the competition with Turner to roam the forward 50 with 2011 Division 3 leading goalkicker Dallas King.
They would also be aided by a now injury-free Bennett who has been elevated to the leadership group after joining from Macleod only one year ago.
“Andy’s been sensational for the club and his professionalism coming from a first division club has brought everyone up a level,’’ Dean said of the forward who kicked five goals in Parkside’s two-point preliminary final win over Panton Hill.
“He’s just been accepted so well within the club and he loves the place.
“He wants to repay the team because he missed I think eight games through injury so he’s really keen to have a big year and we’re expecting big things from him.’’
With retiring stalwarts Daniel McCall and Shannon Ware the only departures from this year’s list, Dean remains boyishly confident ahead of next season despite expecting a more competitive Division 3 competition.
“We’re training super hard to make sure we get there again and I’m certainly confident we can do it again.
“I think every side will improve and I’d say everyone thinks they’re a chance of winning the premiership.
“I don’t think there’s going to be any easy games next year which is really good for the Division 3 competition.”
Last Modified on 09/02/2012 14:54