Winning games of footy will be just one of the focal points at North Cairns this year for returning player-coach Kane Richter. Coming back from a shoulder injury that saw him miss the entire 2011 season, Richter can’t wait to run out in today’s Preseason Cup. And he makes no secret of his team’s desire to improve.
But enhancing their off-field culture and public perception is just as important for Richter and the club this season. He believes they have come a long way since the infamous pre-grand final melee in September 2004 that led to mass suspension and the Tigers being stripped of a senior flag.
"I think our perception as a club is a little better each year," Richter said. "It shows by the people around the club and who are coming to the club. And the culture will continue to grow – it won’t happen in one year."
It will be the second season of their affiliation with the Tigers netball club, who won on their Cairns Netball debut last year.
"That was a fantastic addition and you look at other clubs who have done the same thing; it goes a long way to creating that club package," Richter said.
Their goal is to play finals this year, which means they must unseat one of Centrals, Port, Saints or Manunda after finishing two wins outside the top-four last year.
"If we don’t make the final this year we’ve gone backwards," Richter said. "I think it’d have to be an advantage having the same coach in charge because I’ve already developed that rapport with the players."
Richter said while recruitment was never an easy thing, he felt they had managed to lure more "quality people" as a result of an improved reputation.
Read more at http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/03/17/210735_local-sport-news.html
Courtesy of The Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 19/03/2012 11:17