Dockers' coach calls for sign-ups

Coming off the back of two successful seasons in the Mercantile League, the Secret Harbour Dockers are gearing themselves for a new challenge this year as they head into the WA Amateur Football League.

Coach Mark Pink is not resting on his laurels after back-to-back premierships for the Dockers.

Instead, he will welcome in a new coaching staff for the season and said this year would represent a learning curve.

“The reserves coach is Gary Henley, he will be taking care of the reserves and be assistant coach in the league,” he said.

“Paul Weston is a new face who’s come on board and we also have Ryan Nye who will be having an active interest in the colts. “I’m looking forward to a really good year, we don’t really know what to expect and probably won’t know for a couple of months until we have a look at our lists and see where we’re at.” Coupled with tackling a new league, Pink must also build a new side due to player departures.

He said he had a firm belief in the processes in place at the Dockers, with young players ready to make the step-up.

“We lose our captain Darryl Beechey, he’s going back to Victoria and we’ll also lose a couple of other Victorians who were very handy players for us so we’ll miss them,” Pink said.

“All that does though is open up the opportunity for some local talent and some new, young players that are keen and interested.

“We feel that that structure of play through our junior and youth level teams will flow on through our 16s, 17s and colts, so when they become a senior footballer they already know the structures here.”

Pink has put the call out for players looking to get back into league football and commended his players for their commitment looking ahead.

“Whilst we have won the grand final the last two seasons we know it wasn’t the greatest of comps and to rest on that would be to our detriment,” he said.

“If there’s anybody out there that hasn’t played for a year or so, and looking to get a chance, and wants to play league football but hasn’t found a club that suits them, Secret Harbour is a very warm and welcoming place.

“We’re an up-and-coming club — in the amateurs you can’t pay players so our players all play for the love of the game, which endears them to me.”