Development Coach Report

2022 Development Coach Report

The 2022 Development Season was one with constant challenges and adversity for many reasons, yet it has hopefully delivered a silver lining for this great football club, that will reverberate in the seasons to follow.

It’s hard not to think so positively of the year when you finish on a high note, which is certainly the right place to end up, but as I have allowed myself to reflect on the year, it is clear that we overcame a lot as a group to achieve this sweet victory. Having entered pre-season with a short turnaround after both senior sides played off in the Grand Final, we certainly had our fair share of sore bodies and injuries to manage. However, our list was severely compromised further by the impact of COVID-19 on the eve of our 2022 season.

In Round 1, the League Side debuted 8 players while the Reserves had 16 young men playing senior WAFL Football for the first time, and while we didn’t come away with the win, I was certainly proud of how the very young team took it up to a full-strength South Fremantle. Unfortunately, COVID continued to have its effects on both the playing and coaching groups over the first month of the season. In Round 2, where we had our only win in this timeframe, myself and 2 assistants succumbed to the virus, leaving our remaining assistant, Jack Mayo in the coaches’ box with amazing fill-ins, Darren Rumble and Daniel Vidovich as the other assistants, as well as Colts Coach, Chayce Creedy taking the reins. (Thank you, Gents!) Once Covid had finally passed through the club, we could generate some consistency within the Reserves group in terms of our ability to compete after Round 3, however, this didn’t immediately result in a win. In Round 4, we gave up a 32-point lead at three-quarter time to a resilient East Perth side which was ultimately the low point of the season. After a long debrief in the rooms straight after the game, players and coaches made a vow to learn from the result and use the hurt to make this the turning point of our season. Between Rounds 5 and 13, we did that and proceeded to win the next 7 games straight. The highlight of which came in Round 13 against a robust Peel Thunder side, down in Mandurah. Having worked back into the game after conceding the first five goals and taking a lead into halftime. Unfortunately, this was short-lived as we found ourselves 27 points down with 15 minutes to go. Something deeper took hold, with the boys finding their resilience and belief in the space of 15 minutes to kick the last 32 points in some of the most exciting passages of football I’ve witnessed to win the game by 5 points. Our season then dipped slightly as we went 2-3 in our remaining 5 games, to finish the season with a 10-6 record which saw us finish 4th on the ladder, narrowly missing out on the second chance. This meant we needed to win four do-ordie games to taste premiership glory. To take on this huge task, take the competition to the next level and give us the edge, we set ourselves an objective as hitmen. We needed to focus on one target at a time. Take them out and move on to the next. However, the overarching theme of our group throughout the year, was Love and Care accompanied by the saying “We Love, Love” because at the end of the day you get to play your favourite game with your best mates. It is what drove our energy and mindset throughout the finals series. As we had 18 players debut in the League side in 2022, as well as 58 players come through the Reserves, we needed to create an environment that was centred around embracing what got the boys these opportunities to play league & senior football and how to build on that. Whilst also reminding them they get to do this not only for themselves but their mates. It was this mindset that continued to gain traction as we made our way through our targets. The team were completely dominant in the Elimination Final playing Swan Districts, winning by 73 points. This was then followed up with a 43-point win over South Fremantle in the 2nd Semi Final, which lead us to a Preliminary Final against Claremont. A game that certainly tested the resilience of the group and their ability to hang tough within a game. Despite the opposition having 24 more inside 50s for the game, we were able to put them away kicking the last 6 goals to run out 39-point winners. All this ultimately led us to the big dance against West Perth at our home ground, Leederville Oval. West Perth was the most dominant club in all grades of the competition and had cemented themselves as the benchmark of play for 2022. In the Reserves, they were a team that had only lost 2 games all year, with their last loss coming in Round 4. On Grand Final day, they had over 500 games of League Experience in their side.

The odds may have been stacked against us but the team was confident that if we played to our structures, had the right mindset and ultimately played for each other, we could certainly hold our own on the big day and the boys reflected that with a four-goal to zero opening term. West Perth fought back, having an equally dominating second quarter to go into a half-time with a slender 1-point lead. The message at half-time was that despite giving up the lead, we needed to embrace the position we were in. If you said to us at the beginning of the finals series we would be a point down in the Grand Final at Half Time, we certainly would’ve taken it. In the 2nd half, there were six lead changes and saw scores level with five minutes to go, the boys managed to drag out of the trenches to win the Premiership by a goal in what was a high-quality, thrilling and brutal Reserves WAFL Grand Final. While this football club is certainly not built on winning Reserves flags, what it is built on are our four pillars, Respect, Hunger, Ruthlessness & Sacrifice which support our teamfirst mindset. It was those characteristics that became so prominent in a young group that led themselves through a finals campaign, achieving a flag from a position that only two others have been able to do before them.

As a football club, we should be extremely excited looking to the future after witnessing what these young men achieved while upholding our four pillars. I believe we will look back on this team as one that lays the foundations of our next League Premiership. Even though we were a team that prided ourselves on playing our roles, I must still acknowledge Jaxon McGowan who had a

great season in winning our Fairest and Best Award. He is a tremendously smart and skilful footballer and I have no doubt will be getting an opportunity to play League Football in the years to come. Lachlan Vanirsen was Best on Ground in the Grand Final, as well as our Player of the Finals. Having played nine League Games in 2022, I am sure this final series will be his launching pad for a long League Career. To our Captain, Connor Patterson. A young man with admirable determination, work ethic and formidable leadership qualities. I have no doubt he will be a long-term leader of our football club in the years to come. Finally, what we do is never possible without the support of the following: Thanks to Steve Lind (Manager), Rohan & Dylan Annear (Runners), Chad Redford (Rotations), Jemma Bassi (S&C), Maddie Oudman and her training staff, Phoebe Freeman (Physio), Will Neil-Smith (Video Analysis), Kelly Properjohn for keeping the coaches calm, and Kristan Dicton. To the senior line coaches, Nigel Hamilton, Scott Hancock and Matthew Spencer thank you for your support during the year, particularly during finals in helping us get over the line. To Beau; You have been a massive support to me and my growth as a football coach and I have enjoyed working with you these last two years. I think we complement each other well and look forward to more years ahead. To my assistants; Jason O’Malley, Brent McPherson and Jack Mayo. It was awesome to work with three people that are just as passionate about coaching this group as I am. We have grown a hell of a lot and your support to the boys and myself is truly appreciated. It was great to see you all receive medals for your efforts. To the players, I have loved being around you at training and could not wait for Saturday to roll around each week. This has been the most rewarding year I have had as a football coach and you are responsible for my first flag as a coach. For that, I will never let you out of my heart. It has been a pleasure and an honour to be your football coach. We loved, love!

Jamie Battigelli

Head Coach Development Subiaco