Coburg on the rise under Adam Potter's guide Sam Landsberger
Leader
March 19, 2012 COBURG coach Adam Potter is a school teacher by trade.
His VFL side is akin to a class of eager students, slowly progressing up the ranks and acquiring new skills on the journey.
Potter's task this season is to catapult his pupils into the acceleration class, where they can be fast-tracked into elite footballers ready to take the second-tier league by the scruff.
The talent is there. In Willie Wheeler, Leigh Masters, Ben Clifton, Michael Tanner, Rhett Jordan, Dylan Murphy and David Fahey the Tigers have some serious emerging talent at their disposal.
Wheeler, a midfield jet who can kick goals, has a nice burst of pace and can win contested possessions, was stiff to miss at last year's drafts.
He, Masters and Richmond recruit Pat Contin are three who will give AFL recruiters something to ponder again this season.
Advertisement
The "ins" column is skinny - Potter has acquired some clever TAC Cup graduates without a marquee name - but with some shrewd Richmond recruiting Coburg has the nucleus for success.
"We aim to play finals but we're at a stage now where I want our senior-listed players to take the next step," Potter said when discussing the season.
"It's pretty exciting that from the VFL contingent there are a lot of really young players who we're still trying to develop.
"Our issue last year was we averaged enough inside-50s but we probably didn't generate enough score. So that's something we've looked at, our forward structure will probably change a little bit."
Coburg endured a frustrating 2011 and with a young side was cruelled by a nightmare start to the season.
Continuity was sapped by repeated byes wedged between narrow defeats, while the Tigers appeared to lack fitness at times and suffered some poundings on the scoreboard.
That, Potter says, has been addressed.
"We've also done a lot of work over the summer on decision making. We had too many goals scored against us from turnovers last year and so that's been a real focus, as well as fitness so they can make good decisions when they're fatigued," he said.
Coburg showed its potential with boilovers against Casey (twice), the Northern Blues and Bendigo (twice), with that work undone by two poor showings against Frankston.
CAPTAIN: Nick Carnell will lead the Tigers again and remains one of the most inspirational leaders in the competition. A tough player with a strong work ethic, he is an early candidate to lead Victoria in the state match this season.
ONE TO WATCH: Nathan Thomas has played just one senior match but grabbed 28 touches against Werribee in a practice match and has had a super summer. Leading TAC Cup goalkicker Nick Maric another which could excite as 23rd man
2011 AT A GLANCEPlayed: 18
Won: 6
Lost: 12
Finished: 11th
JIM SULLIVAN AWARD1. Sam Power
2. Ben Clifton
3. Willie Wheeler and Michael Tanner
LEADING GOALKICKERS1. Nick Carnell (26)
2. Dylan Murphy (13)
3. Rhett Jordan (13)
COBURG’S FIRST FIVERound 1 v Northern Blues
Round 2 v Casey Scorpions
Round 3 v Sandringham
Round 5 v Frankston
Round 6 v Box Hill Hawks
PASS MARKCoburg captain Nick Carnell is keen to build a culture of sustained success and professionalism. To do that 2012 must be a platform season, building on the six-win achievement under Adam Potter last year. Early wins will be paramount to avoid the horror start 2011 produced, with three wins from the first five achievable. If Coburg can square its ledger by seasons end and play finals it would be a resounding success and giant leap forward.
ROUND 1 DETAILSCoburg Tigers v Northern Blues
Saturday at 1.10pm, Coburg City Oval
With no AFL on this is the best footy ticket in town.
http://m.heraldsun.com.au/afl/localfooty/coburg-on-the-rise-under-adam-potters-guide/story-fn53khop-1226303786509
