By Trevor Jackson
ROBE Football Club is one with something to prove in the 2024 Mid South Eastern football season.
Having won the opening nine rounds in 2023, the Roosters looked every bit a contender.
However, injury reared its ugly head and with a drop in confidence, they quickly fell from grace.
From there they struggled to the first semi-final from a third place finish, but were bundled out by a strong Hatherleigh outfit.
It is fair to say coach Nathan Brown was a bit disappointed with the outcome, but he is keen to resume the chase for a premiership flag in 2024.
a couple of changes have taken place, but the roster remains strong.
George Pretlove has moved to Adelaide, as has Ethan Cornish.
The Roosters have picked up Sam Bates, Sam Thomson and Tyler Thomson from Naracoorte, along with Jed Jarrett from Naracoorte and Tom Williams from Penola.
The remainder of the list remains to the same, but the elephant in the room is the performance of the Roosters in the second half of 2023, which Brown has not been shy about discussing with his playing group.
“We have sat down as a group and looked at what went right and what we were doing well,” he said.
“Those injuries made it a bit harder, but there was definitely some complacency and some other things we let creep into our game and our system.
“You can’t be complacent at all in footy.
“We won nine in a row and lost our next four, so our confidence after those losses was completely shot.
“We probably went away from our structures and our ball movement and what we were doing well because we were worried about not performing the best we could, which in turn was probably the reason we didn’t perform as well as we could.”
With that out of the way Brown has been able to concentrate on preparing his players for the new season, with the main goal to finish towards the pointy end of the field and take it from there.
“We have revised some things over the off-season and attacked pre-season and the start of the year a bit differently, hoping to balance things out a bit more,” he said.
“We had a horrible run with injuries last season and you can’t help that, so we are itching to go and ready to go.
“Hopefully we can keep everyone healthy and on the park and be really strong again this year.”
So far Brown said all was going to plan, with a strong turnout at training.
“One of the good things since I have been here coaching is the response from the playing group, whether it is the top tier guys or even those who are potentially going to float between As and Bs throughout the year, everyone is on board and on the same page,” he said.
“That goes a long way to being a successful and quality side.
“It is pleasing from a coaching point of view to have that backing from your playing group.
“All of our structures we have worked out and everyone is on board with that.
“I have also seen it come to fruition through three practice matches, so it is not all talk, the boys are putting it into action.”
Along with the senior players, Brown has a crop of youngsters to work with, including a couple up at Glenelg and several senior colts ready to step up to the main game.
“I am big on blooding that next crop of A Grade footballers who will potentially play 200 games for your club,” he said.
“Getting that experience of senior footy is important so they know what to expect when they do come up and play.”
Now in his second year at the club and at Robe, Brown has nothing but praise for the seaside village, which he says has welcomed him and his family with open arms.
That in itself takes the pressure off and allows the coach to settle comfortably into his work, as was seen in the first half of 2023.
“It has been a seamless transition from the start,” Brown said of his move to Robe.
“It didn’t take long for me to find my feet and get amongst everything.
“With country towns and country footy it is a huge part of the town.
“I work at the golf club and the oldies who come up and have a hit always ask about the family and the footy.
“It is a town full of beautiful people, there is a genuine care for me and my family and I can’t speak more highly of the town and the club.”
