Ibises take new tack

 

December 16 2009

Shepparton News

A change of recruiting strategy is at the forefront of Tatura's pre-season planning after men's division one coach Reno Lia recently committed to a second season with the Goulburn North East Football Association outfit.

Tatura broke into the finals for the first time since 2002 in Lia's first season this year, but bombed out 5-0 to Shepparton in its elimination final match at Barooga.

The nature of the defeat and one-sided score has left plenty of motivation for Lia to take his team back to the top four and make a greater impact next year.

One team rule to be implemented is that players must attend training each week, making Tatura's employment of up to four ex-radius players (based 100 km or more from the club) an unlikely prospect.

"Without your full complement, blokes from Melbourne, you're never going to get the best out of your squad," Lia said.

"Especially at the business end of the season.

"I think we need to make sure it's players from this area playing for Tat. I'm not going to have three guys travelling from Melbourne and not training with the team.

"International (recruits, based in the Goulburn Valley) is not an option. The club is probably not in a position to have an overseas contingent."

Tatura's ex-radius players last season were Antonio Celentano, Terry Kappadais, Andrew Charalambous and Carmelo Bazzano who was injured during the year.

"For me if we have Melbourne players they have to be able to train at least once a week," Lia said.

A number of talented young players at Tatura - such as back-to-back under-16 best and fairest Cody Sellwood - are being targeted by Lia to put pressure on last season's senior starters.

"These young boys have to step up, they're going to have to show me a fair bit," Lia said.

"We've been doing a bit of post-season training, when pre-season starts (next year) we'll have a similar program with about five practice matches.

"I'm looking forward too it, I know what we need to do to be successful. We need to make sure we're respected on the park, and should we make finals again it will be a better showing."