Colt Corner February Update

New Subiaco Colts Coach Chayce Creedy sits down to give an insight to the Subiaco Colts program ahead of the commencement of pre-season matches for the Colts in mid-March.

 

After a long pre-season, which started back in November, the squad has come together strongly and is keen to get into active competition.

 

2019 is a big year for the Colts as for just the third time in history, the Subiaco Colts go into a year as defending premier with this group capable of making history by becoming the first Colts back to back premier.

 

Get the inside word from Chayce.

 

 

Chayce, less than a month away from pre-season action officially starting for your Colts boys, what is the mood like amongst the group and how keen are they to get into some actual games?

 

The mood has been good, obviously its long pre-season three nights a week since the middle of November so it’s hard to keep the boys up all the time but they seem to do a pretty good job of keeping the mood up and making most sessions good. We had our players camp on the weekend where we spent the weekend together with some leadership themes, team building and a big fun element and that seems to have invigorated the group for the last part of the preseason. We are looking forward to playing some real opposition so the 15^th of March can’t come quick enough when we have a hit our against East Perth.

 

 

Pre-season games against East Perth, Swans and South Fremantle to come in March, will there be anything you will be aiming to take away from these matches before Round One and a home clash with East Perth?

 

We had such a big turnover of players from last year’s squad and Premiership side who have moved on so we will be looking to use these games to start forming some synergies with a group of new players. We have had some things we have been working on around our trademarks and what we want to be known for in the competition so hopefully we see some of that coming through, other than that it will just be a chance for the boys to start putting some of their hard work to use and getting out and getting the flow of competitive football again ready for the season proper.

 

 

Been a long pre-season, are there any boys that have taken noticeable strides forward in their development over the past three months and are ready to have an impact at Colts level?

 

Quite pleasing on that front to be honest there are some senior players that have come back looking eager and have put in a big amount of work over preseason in Noah Ash, Ben Golding, Jacob Peletier and Daniel Frost who we look forward to having a big impact within our group but there are a range of up and comers who have also impressed. Zac Caulfield a ruck prospect has certainly come on and continues to work hard, Sandi Mathiang has shown some glimpses of excitement, Lachie Vanirsen has impressed as well as some lads who have come up from the country and have done good things in Jack Borchet, Bronson Bishop and Chayse Paperone from Kal as well as Harvey Bishop and Bryce Mcdonald from Esperance. This is just a few who I can rattle off but to be honest all those that are still with the program at times have shone through.

 

 

A number of Colts premiership players from last year have graduated through to senior football, which of the returning players from last year though have had a strong impact through pre-season training?

 

Jacob Peletier and Ben Golding are the ones that spring to mind in terms of those premiership players, We haven’t seen a lot of Nick Martin who has been with the senior group and on state duties but from all reports has been training well and certainly when we have seen him his input has been valuable. These guys have put in the work so far and come the season proper im sure we will see them have a big impact, they don’t have to do anything special other than play their role and the team will grow with them.

 

 

One noticeable thing about last year’s Subiaco Colts squad was the spirit they had and the genuine enjoyment they had with training and playing together, is that something that you have seen transfer into this new group?

 

I think its developing, I was big at the start of preseason that this season was about this year’s group and them forging their own path. The premiership last year was the culminations of a lot of hard work over a few years and a group coming to the end of their time in the colts system. That counts for very little with our group this year so they need to create their own story as they will. I think the preseason camp has kick started a bit of banter and chat within the group and having spent a weekend together we have all learnt something new about someone in the group. As we build into game mode hopefully some of what we worked on that weekend will drive our group to create their spirit.

 

 

Yourself, first year as Colts coach after being an assistant last year, how different have you found it being coach as opposed to an assistant through pre-season?

 

It’s certainly been a steep learning curve and a very busy time coinciding with the birth of Carly and I’s first child Oliver, but I was very lucky to be taking over a well setup system and framework left by Beau and having worked alongside him for a year has given me a great opportunity to extend on his work and then make my own. I have been well assisted by a great group of coaches and support staff and our new Talent Manager Dicko, we have formed a great relationship and work well together which has made that transition as good as it can be. I am always learning and have and will continue to make mistake but hopefully I learn from them and continue to grow into the role.

 

 

In terms of your coaching group, some returning faces and some new faces, how has the group come together and how are they embracing the standards you have put in place with the program?

 

Very lucky in that respect that Jason Hoskins stayed on from last year and moves into looking after the mids, he is great to work with and the boys love him. Nick Visser has moved from the runners role into full time coaching looking after the forwards and is starting to find his groove and getting his boys moving the way he wants them too and the last piece of our puzzle was a backs coach and after interviewing a few people John Mansbridge came out as a strong candidate and with what he has done so far is proving to us why we chose him. We have also brought on Brett Davis as a ruck/talls coach and assisting the mids and he has had a profound effect on the group. So along with these guys and then the support staff in Cam Fry, Kristelle Graus and Maddie Oudman we have a great group to help this team be the best they can. We all get on well and enjoy a laugh which is important with how much time we spend together, I look forward to the year ahead with this group of staff.

 

 

Finally, the futures program is also about a month away from commencing, how as coach have you found this new style and philosophy of program to work?

 

I think this is a great concept and gives a nice streamline into the colts system. Having Stu Page as the head coach is great we get on so well and he is a great sounding board and his knowledge of the players within our district is a great asset. We have tried as much as we can to make sure we are closely aligned in what we are doing and creating synergies within our styles so the messaging to players is the same through all grades. I look forward to watching this group play and hopefully unearth some future colts players for the Subiaco Football Club.