THEY say you learn more from a loss than a victory, and that was certainly the case for Wentworth’s senior football side last year.
Humming along with an 11-0 win-loss record, Wade Hancock’s troops looked bulletproof and an odds-on favourite to claim their first SFNL flag in a decade.
However, there was much more going on that met the eye, as Hancock reflected on during a pre-season training session at George Gordon Oval this week.
Asked what the biggest thing he learnt last year, the playing coach said: “Even if you are winning games and there’s no real catalyst for change, you still need to review where you’re at and look for any weaknesses.
“Looking back, we took things for granted a bit last year when we had that winning run.
“Obviously we were playing some good footy, but there were bad habits that were creeping in along the way that we didn’t address.
“But it’s probably the experience we had to have, and we’ve tasted grand final day.
“With the experience and knowledge of what’s to come, we’ll be better off for it.”
The Roos fell short by a goal in the grand final, leaving the players feeling gutted after such a gruelling campaign.
In fact, Hancock said the players were still feeling it as they came back for pre-season just before Christmas.
“There was definitely a bit of a hangover from the granny last year. A few of the boys, including myself, rocked up pretty flat earlier in the pre-season,” said Hancock, the league’s leading goal kicker last year.
“We were emotionally hurt, but it was more physical after a massive year.
“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and it definitely lingered into the start of pre-season.
“But post-Christmas, we’ve all been reinvigorated and ready to go for this season.”
The addition of former AFL player Jarrod Brander has given the Roos a big boost, as has former Sydney Swan Ben McGlynn running much of the pre-season sessions as Hancock juggles long harvest-work days.
At just 24, following stints with the West Coast Eagles and GWS Giants, where he was delisted at the end of last AFL season, Brander is set to take the league by storm this year as the Roos promise to be “The Entertainers” again.
“Our main objective once again will be to try and move the footy quickly with our youth and speed,” Hancock said.
“With the addition of Jarrod to our team, our talls are quite elite when you factor in the likes of Andy Wall, Jackson Ferguson and Aaron Duck with him.
“We want to play an exciting brand of footy again, and that’s what people come to the ground to watch.”
Among the other key inclusions for the Roos this year are SA recruit Jack Manson, a midfielder/half back who has played Division 1 in the Adelaide Footy League.
Hancock describes Manson as a “great runner and user of the ball”.
The Roos also welcome Colby Wade from Bambill and Rory Hooper, who is coming back from Adelaide.
These arrivals will counter the loss of four high-quality players in cousins Jack (moved to Adelaide) and Nick Cottrell (overseas travel), Cleve Westley (overseas travel) and Sam Cumming (Adelaide).
Hancock said that along with the inclusions of Brander, Manson, Wade and Hooper, it would be a “five to 10 per cent increase in performance from those already in our own backyard” that would set the Roos up for finals success.
As for the teams to beat this season, he said: “The comp should be more even than last year, but you might see a couple of teams drop away a little bit through a lack of numbers.
“Equally, there are going to be some teams that will surprise.
“Merbein has been written off a bit, but I think they’ll be up there. And the big improver for me will be Red Cliffs.
“(New Tigers coach) Ryan Doherty will be a breath of fresh air, and Vas (Tuifao) will continue to lift and motivate the group.
“They also have some good recruits. They’re my smokey this season.”
A week before the SFNL season kicks off, the Roos should be well represented in the Sunraysia team to face the NT Redtails at Mildura Sporting Precinct on April 15.
The likes of Hancock, Brander and ruckman Nick Jensen are expected to be in coach Don Falvo’s starting side for the Dreamtime twilight clash.
“What Donny, (assistant coach) Benny (Ridley) and the other organisers have done is exactly what’s needed for the league,” Hancock said.
“This new rep concept is one of the big reasons why there’s such a big buzz about the season.
“From the players’ point of view, it’s shifted our thinking from not wanting to play interleague, to ‘oh, I want to part of this’ because of the vibe.
“It’s going to be a special occasion and set the league up well for the year.”
