PORT ADELAIDE AFLW assistant coach Dan Merrett can already see the improvement in the playing group since arriving at Alberton in January.
Fully immersing himself in the culture and heritage of the club since arriving in January, Merrett is looking forward to seeing what the team can achieve in its third season.
Speaking with the Adelaide media on Thursday, the former Brisbane Lion gave the lowdown on the squad’s new talent, the pre-season so far, and which player had a monster off-season.
Merrett on pre-season so far
“Yeah (it’s been) great. We're almost finished, which is the best time of our pre-season. And for the girls, since the draft, like some of the newbies got drafted and traded in December, so they've been building for a while now, probably the longest off-season, slash pre-season, for most of them. But yeah, it's 10 weeks in. We play our first trial game against the crows at Port Augusta (this weekend). And yeah, I think everyone's just excited, just to get into it and just to see how we go really.”
Merrett on the playing group this year
“Yeah, what I'm seeing so far is a lot of improvement, firstly in game knowledge and education of the game, fitness base, from what I've heard. Being it’s the first year I've been here, it's really hard for me to compare from where we've come from. So I've just been impressed with the way they've gone about it, attacked it and, yeah, just general improvement in their skills, game knowledge and fitness all around.”
Merrett on his advice for players based on his own AFL career
“I suppose, from my end, the reason I got into coaching, particularly in the AFLW space, is I just love the way the girls are sponges. And if you give them a bit of advice, they go out practice it, and you actually see it. In a couple of sessions, you'll see them working on those skills. So as a coach, it's really rewarding. I feel like you get a bit more bang for your buck with coaching the girls, because I think, yeah, just their ability to be able to change the way they kick or where they mark, or use their body in a contest. I think from a coach's point of view, it's really rewarding. I was a bit of a dour defender back in the day, but that's a few years (ago) now. So since that time I was coaching up in Brisbane in the early days when the competition first started, and then I've also been helping coach over in the boys (Port Adelaide SANFL) program as well. So you pick up things from other coaches, and this year, I'm actually coaching the midfield, which is a good challenge for myself. And, yeah, I suppose that side of things (and) what I've been able to bring, is just your ability to be strong in the contest, and then being able to get that ball into our forward line.”
Merrett on the new talent in the side
“Yeah, look, it feels like we've got a heap of new ones in to point out. Obviously I'll forget someone and break their heart, but I think basically our draftees that are playing in the midfield, Shineah Goody, Piper Window and Molly (Brooksby), I think they're probably the three that come to mind. But there's still some people from last year that that are dominating as well in our midfield. I just think (I’ve seen) a general improvement from our midfield group…I think the more time they've been able to spend together and just build relationships with the new ones coming in as well. Yeah, it’s really, really exciting.”
Merrett on immersing himself in the culture and history of Port Adelaide
“I think I've just probably what surprised me was when I was coming into the club, just how welcoming it was, and how I think I’d been here for maybe three weeks, but it felt like I’d been here for six months. Obviously, the history of it as well. And what I love about Port is there's a little bit of that ‘’us against the world. And, yeah, I love that side of things as well. I just love the way they just stick by their guns that they're super challenging. And, yeah, they do it their way.”
Merrett on the match sim against the Crows on Sunday
“Being a trial game, we know we're not playing for sheep stations, but I think it's a good test for our group against, like a really quality opposition, who have been the leaders of the AFLW since the first season. So it's going to be a great test for our group against one of the best and then the following week, we play Melbourne, who's again, one of the best in the competition. So, yeah, I think just the opportunity to play against some really good opposition before the season starts is really, is going to set us up.”
Merrett on Ash Saint’s pre-season form
“It’s been really, really strong. She took a minute off her 2k time trial. So not just like 10 seconds, we're talking a minute, which is almost a lap. So yeah, she's in really, really good shape, really strong. She's been elevated to leadership group as well. So I think she's in really good spot to attack this season.”
Merrett on new captain Janelle Cuthbertson’s leadership
“Again, obviously, not seeing her last year, but from when I first met her in January, the way she's handled herself, she hasn't really changed all that much. She's got a really, really good head on her shoulders, liked by everyone in the group. And I think the way she trains, attacks each session, tries to get herself better, and the way she works in the gym as well. I think from what I've seen, I can understand why they've made a captain.”
Merrett on the length of the off-season and pre-season
“Yeah, I don't know what the alternative is. Obviously, it's not as long a season as the men. So yeah, we've had some of the girls play SANFL, which has helped keep their footy going. But I think your 10 weeks (of pre-season) is about right. I think, yeah, you have a couple of breaks in between there. So, at the moment the alternate, I don't know, but I think (the pre-season feels like it’s) about the right timing.”
