Outgoing South Rovers mentor Adam Matheson says he is proud of his players' resilience and is confident the next coach will have an exciting list on their hands.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the Lion coach's final match in charge, his side came to the fore to inflict Merrivale with an untimely loss before Warrnambool and District finals, sending the Tigers down to fourth on the table.
The Lions' 12.11 (83) to 8.8 (56) win meant they finished the season on a high. They kicked away with a seven-goal to one second half.
"It was a great outcome, I'm really proud - we've had a positive mindset the last eight games, our playing group has been so positive knowing we wouldn't make finals," he said.
"It's a good sign of character within the playing group."
The Lions' life member said the win was set-up through a strong team defensive effort against a dangerous Tigers outfit.
"We trained all week to be a bit more defensively, they're a good running team so we wanted to get in front of the ball carrier," he said.
"That caused a few turnovers and we were able to score which was good - it was a persistent effort from the playing group.
"Everybody played their part but Dylan Cox was outstanding again and Eamon Dowd. I also thought Tom Bowman and Manny Sandow had a good battle (in the ruck), it was good to watch."
The Lions - who finish sixth on the table - won nine games this season.
Matheson said it was vital the club set the foundations for a new coach to step in next season.
"One of our areas of focus was being competitive to make it an attractive proposition for someone to come in, so not only was it personal pride, it was also making sure our club is really strong," he said.
"Our first priority was retaining the playing group and obviously the next priority is finding a coach, that's important going forward.
"The playing group has finally switched on in what it takes to compete against the best sides, they understand what's required."
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.standard.net.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines and newsletters
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn
- Tap here to open our Google News page.
- Join our Courts and Crime Facebook group and our dedicated Sport Facebook group
- Subscribe
Now just one tap with our new app: Digital subscribers now have the convenience of faster news, right at your fingertips with The Standard:
Nick Creely
Sports reporter with The Standard
Sports reporter with The Standard
