SOUTH Warrnambool players are squeezing in extra training as they attempt to make a return to Hampden league finals for the first time since 2011.
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First-year coach Mathew Buck said after finishing seventh last season – with just five wins to their name – he had urged players to step up and put in work away from the training track.
He has been impressed by the efforts of Jock Blair, Patrick Anderson and recruit Paddy Mahony.
Buck said it was evident the trio had taken his message to heart and committed to the bigger workload.
“Their commitment to training (has really stood out) … and they’ve done a lot of work outside training,” he said.
The Roosters have wasted no time working on their new game plan under Buck, refining their skills to bring in a more defensive element.
“We’ve been working on the way we wanted to play since night one,” Buck said.
“Being a young team, they were very good at attacking in patches, but what we need to be able to do is defend as a team for long periods.”