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Sport

3 October, 2019

Reserves ready to cap off stellar year

THE Mareeba Bulls premier men’s Reserves clinched the FNQ Football premiership for 2019 with Coach Dennis Allen keen to wrap up the season with another two trophies in the form of the grand final shield and the Crad Evans.

By Rhys Thomas

Reserves ready to cap off stellar year - feature photo

THE Mareeba Bulls premier men’s Reserves clinched the FNQ Football premiership for 2019 with Coach Dennis Allen keen to wrap up the season with another two trophies in the form of the grand final shield and the Crad Evans.

After last year’s disappointment in reaching the final and losing out to the Innisfail Cutters the memory is still fresh in the minds of the players as they stage their final preparations for the big match at Endeavour Park this Saturday evening.

The team has learnt a lot from last year’s disappointment of reaching the grand final only to lose.

The pre-season was crucial for the bulls; they started training early in the year with very intensive fitness training to gain the upper hand over opposing sides in the opening games of the season.

“We wanted to hit the ground running because winning those really early games at the start was very important as it sets the scene for the rest of the season,” Coach Dennis Allen said.

“We did have a little bad patch, as all teams do in the middle of the season, but the memories of last year were fresh in our minds and we didn’t want to go through them again.

“It was imperative that we didn’t lose those easy games, this year we had a good blend of youth and experience, there were some 35 players that played in this team at some time and they all need to be congratulated for getting us this far.

“On game day we have to match the intensity of our opposition, we can’t be complacent but Nick and I will make sure that doesn’t come into play, it will be a hard game and we have to be ready for that.”

Assistant coach Nick Tallarico added that Failing was out of the question

“In finals it all comes down to who wants it more and who is hungrier, form is irrelevant.

“The players that have been here before will carry those that haven’t.

“We’ve got a great bunch of lads here and they all know what’s at stake.”

Coach Dennis Allen and Assistant Coach Nick Tallarico.
Coach Dennis Allen and Assistant Coach Nick Tallarico.

Throughout the course of the season several players have stepped up to be influential, namely, Ivan Jensen who has excelled in the midfield, Liam Leporati is one of the highest goal scorers in the comp and has done some great things this year and Adrian Madrid has really helped in securing the defensive line.

Tallarico said “Everyone who has played for the team has given their all and have earned us the right to play in the Grand Final and the Crad Evans, I think come game day we have to leave it all on the park and have no regrets.”

A final word from Coach Dennis Allen

“I’ve been involved with one treble in my career and it’s a special feeling, we have the opportunity to experience that feeling as a team, but it will take a monumental effort of behalf of the boys and I’m quietly confident that they can do it.”

KICK OFF: 5pm at Endeavour Park, Cairns.

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