From the outside looking in last year was a disaster for Goorambat.
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A season record of three wins, 15 losses is pretty damning.
As is a 0-15 record in the reserves.
The reality of the season is not something new coach Sam Gladstone is going to shy away from.
‘‘It was a hard season,’’ Gladstone said.
‘‘A lot of things didn’t go right. The commitment and the fitness from the side wasn’t always there, but that is a positive because that’s the kind of thing that we have the ability to fix in how we prepare for the season.’’
If something positive has come out of the horrors of the preceding season, it is a shift in attitude of some of the club’s players.
‘‘Some of the players who have been around for a while and put up with what we went through in 2018 are noticeably different in their approach in 2019,’’ he said.
‘‘They’re mad about what happened — and they should be, no-one wants to be in that position — so they have come back with an attitude that this will not happen again.
‘‘When you have leaders at your club who are willing to stand up and set the example, everyone else takes notice and they try and get to that level.
‘‘This is the kind of attitude that is going to turn this club around.’’
The club’s desire to improve on fitness has been a priority since the start of the pre-season.
And the commitment has been shown away from the club.
‘‘We have been putting the group through hard sessions, but the players have been going away and doing extra work away from the club. Small things like that are how a club improves — putting in the work on your own time is essential.’’
The club has also made list changes to bring some extra quality through the doors.
‘‘Recruiting has looked really good,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve had three in the door so far and are likely to get another three come in.
‘‘We’ve trained with the full group now, everyone has come out to have a crack because they know we are committed and are going to be a strong team again.’’
The belief is there and the club is aiming high.
‘‘We are still a developing team,’’ he said.
‘‘A lot of new faces and a new coaching staff. But we believe that if we can put it altogether, we can make finals. If we get there, they’re a funny old thing finals, anything can happen.’’