Nathan Horbury's hunger to lead South Bendigo back to the BFNL finals was the catalyst for him re-signing with the Bloods for a fourth year as playing coach.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bloods made a big step forward in 2021 and were likely to play finals for the first time in nine years had the second half of the season not been ruined by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Horbury, who became a father for the first time during the season, contemplated giving up the coaching role, but that feeling of unfinished business saw him re-sign for another year.
"Motivation has been hard for everyone with what we've gone through over the past two seasons, but I felt it would be silly not to coach again,'' Horbury said.
"We had a good start to the season this year and we're pretty excited about where we're heading.
"It wasn't an easy decision considering how much time coaching takes up these days, and I have my family and work to think about, but I'm lucky that I have good support around me at the club with (assistant coach) Torps (Neale Torpey) and the committee."
Horbury's commitment to the Bloods has been matched by the playing group, with the majority of the senior list already re-signed for 2022.
Read more: Will Ollie take Charlie home tonight?
"We caught up with the boys over Zoom through lockdown and we caught up with a few of them last weekend when restrictions were eased...and the feeling amongst the group is that they want to finish what we started,'' Horbury said.
"We were on track to play finals for the first time since 2012 and that's a huge carrot for the boys.
"If our young players can take another step and we add a couple of players to the mix then anything could happen next year."
Crucially for the Bloods, their Melbourne-based recruits - Cooper Leon, Oscar White, Ollie Simpson and Sunny Brazier - look set to stay with the club in 2022.
"The Melbourne boys have verbally said they're ready to go again next year,'' Horbury said.
"They've been sent their contracts and we just need those signatures now.
"Sunny (Brazier) just wants to have his exit meeting with Northern Bullants before he makes a decision.
"He was playing some good VFL footy before the season was stopped and he's keen to align himself with us again.
"The way he played in the VFL this year we probably won't see him for many games next year."
Horbury has already been on the recruiting trail and, like so many country clubs, he'd love to attract some key position players for next season.
A big forward to take the pressure off the brilliant Kaiden Antonowicz and a number one ruckman are high on Horbury's agenda.
"When Sunny was playing VFL we went back to being a bit too Kaiden (Antonowicz) conscious,'' Hobury said.
"It's understandable because Kaiden is such a quality player, but we do need that extra key player.
"We need a ruckman as well. We had young Riley Walsh and Will Allen play in the ruck this year and they competed really hard for us, but to be fair to them they were undersized every week and they can be really valuable for us as key position backs and forwards."
Horbury said he was hopeful the Bloods' improvement on the field this year would make the club a more attractive proposition to recruits.
"When you talk to players the first thing they want is to be part of a successful side,'' Horbury said.
"We made a really good start to this year and we're building something here and, hopefully, players will see that and want to be a part of it."
Read more: Catch up on the latest local footy news
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News