Laurimar coach Wayne Sharkie believes 2017 has been a success for his side in its inaugural season in the NFL’s senior competition.
The Power enter the final round of the season with a 2-13 record and look poised to avoid the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 wooden spoon at Reservoir’s expense.
While there is still plenty of work to do on the field, Sharkie believes the club couldn’t be in a better position.
“It’s been a good season in terms of establishing the club and getting a lot of stuff going that needed to go from scratch,” Sharkie told NFL.org.au.
“I think we’ve played about 45 players in the seniors this year so we’ve had a really good look at the broad spectrum of the list.
“In terms of our footy, we’ve been pretty good in patches but we just need to keep on improving, working on that consistency and making sure that top-end is put out more often.”
The silver-lining from the campaign is the continued development of the club’s up and coming youngsters.
Without an under-19s side this season, Sharkie has been able to expose plenty of kids to senior footy in an attempt to fast-track the success of the club.
Their progress was demonstrated on Saturday, when the Power ran premiership aspirant within 34 points at Laurimar Reserve.
“Last weekend against Banyule we played six players under 17 and another two that would’ve been eligible to play 19s if we had them,” Sharkie said.
“That’s the big upside of the club and the reason that the club exists this year, because if we hadn’t been around for those young kids to come up to then they would’ve disappeared.
“This is the year they really had to have a senior club step up, and those young kids can all play so that’s what the club’s looking to build on.
“The foundation and what the club has found this year the … recruitment and future lies in the development of these kids.”
Laurimar travels to Waterview Recreation Reserve to take on Mernda in the last game of the season this Saturday to take on a Demons side they have already been victorious against in 2017.
While optimistic about his side’s chances to get another win to finish the season on a high, the attitude remains the same – give the kids more exposure.
“Of course we are going to try and win to finish off the season, but we’re going to maintain the kids,” Sharkie said.
“The game for both sides this week is insignificant for the fact that it won’t make any difference to ladder positions or effect finals aspirations. So for us it’s still about getting yet another game into the kids and playing another game together as a unit.”
Sharkie also lauded the efforts of those who got the club to where it is today, suggesting it’s their contribution that has the club in a good position going forward.
“We had a number of veterans who put their hand up to help start the club this year,” Sharkie said.
“The club very much appreciates the efforts of those guys who put their body on the line … establishing a side for the better of the club. That’s really important.”
