Up the only way for Bundy
Friday, 15 May 2009
There is only one way Bundaberg Spirit can go after their 10-0 humiliation by Brisbane Strikers last Saturday – up.
But new coach Brett Hambrecht, who has been groomed for the role by Richard Mitchell as his assistant for the previous six weeks, could not have stepped into the top job in tougher circumstances on the eve of their clash with Capricorn Cougars at Martens Oval tomorrow night.
On top of the unavailability of four of their young guns, each with state championships commitments, Mitch Broom, Arian Dubroy, Jack Hambrecht and Matt Timbrell, reserve keeper Dayne Rimmington has withdrawn from the squad.
Also their 2008 Best and Fairest and Players’ Player Andy Wood has announced that it will be his last game for the club.
On the other side of the coin, they will welcome the classy Mitch Hodgkinson back into the side after missing their past five games due to working away, while another of their 2008 stars, potential match winner Laurie Stephenson will help out for the second week in a row, and three young Bingera club talents will also suit up as guest players – Matthew Mills, Luke Metcalf and Scott McEwan.
Also, despite the Cougars having two wins to their credit – a first-up 2-1 victory over FNQ Bulls and a 3-0 ambush of reigning premiers Sunshine Coast on 4th April – and a last-star 2-2 draw against Whitsunday Miners, the Spirit’s form had not been bad before last week’s massacre, and Hambrecht is hopeful they can bounce back and send Wood out in the way he deserves – as a winner.
“Andy has been a real workhorse for Bundaberg Spirit since day one, and every session, his commitment and passion have been there, and it will be a sad day, but I’m sure he will do every to bow out with a win, and everyone else will also produce something special,’’ Hambrecht said.
“We don’t want to forget about last week but we don’t want to experience that feeling again and want to learn from it and move on.’’
Without a win in eight matches this season, the Spirit can draw some confidence from their unbeaten record against the Cougars after scoring their maiden victory against them, getting up 2-0 at home on 26th April last year, then battling out a scoreless draw in their away clash on 12th July.
Hambrecht hopes last week was “just one of those nights’’ but he also said it was virtually impossible to at your peak every week.
“I’ve been talking to a guy who worked with the Brisbane Broncos when they were first formed and they had Queensland and Australian representatives, and for a while they would win one week and lose three, then win two and lose two, just because they were not mentally prepared each week,’’ he said.
“We maybe dropped our guard a bit after a good run for a few weeks but last Saturday was a real blow-out, and the boys are keen, eager and hungry to make amends.
“10-nil was a real drubbing but we were against a star-studded side and the ball movement was at an extra-high level.
“But the good thing was all fought to the full-time whistle – every single one of them all put in 100%, which is a good foundation stone, but now they have got to work on their mental toughness.’’
Despite the changes of personnel, Hambrecht said training had again been good this week and he believes they can break their drought despite admitting that their task will not be easy against a settled side which has the chance to climb a couple of positions from their ninth on the ladder if they are successful.
“Our availability of players is down due to the four players being missing, and again it is a new mix in the side a bit, but the ones coming in are all good quality players, and I’m sure we will do really well against Capricorn Cougars and be more than competitive,’’ he said.
But Hambrecht is also banking on another big home crowd to provide their team with the lift they need to get them over the line and to give Wood a fitting farewell.
Vince Habermann
