LESSONS can be learnt almost anywhere — just ask Wangaratta Rovers coach and primary school principal Paul Maher.
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Maher knows the Rovers have to learn some tough lessons to turn their fortunes around.
But, as they head into today’s clash at Myrtleford at W.J. Findlay Oval, he said they were well on the way to doing just that.
Maher said the Rovers would have to do what they could to win the ball out of the middle of the ground to challenge their opponents.
“We want to win,” he said.
“We’ve lost three in a row, but as a club we can cope with the losses as long as we know we are learning — and I think we are.
“Some might say they’re honourable losses, by two or three goals at the most.
“But if we can learn from those losses then when we meet those sides again we can be confident that we can address some of the deficiencies from last time and can get over the line.
“And as long as the boys are listening, learning, getting bigger and stronger as we go, we’ll continue to improve.”
As a teacher and a principal, few could be more qualified to be a mentor to a young team.
Maher said he hoped his professional credentials would translate to results for the club.
“As a coach I see the role as more than Tuesday and Thursday night coaching and game day,” he said.
“It’s about developing that relationship with the players, making sure they know they can always come to you and ask advice about their game or anything else for that matter.
“That role for mentoring young people is an important part of my job.”
Maher said the club had “quality” young players coming up.
Dylan Stone and Alex Marklew have impressed the coach this season while two players have debuted in the past fortnight in Brydon Robins and Stuart Booth.
“I could keep going down the list of young blokes still learning the game,” Maher said.
“Sometimes basic skills can let you down and that’s where we’ve been struggling the most — we’ve missed simple targets by hand and by foot when there’s pressure, and sometimes when there’s no pressure.
“But with a young side, and an inexperienced side, that’s always going to happen.
“As long as we are learning from those mistakes, stay positive and truly believe we’ve got the talent, we can turn that around.”
We’ve lost three in a row, but as a club we can cope with the losses as long as we know we are learning — and I think we are ... as long as the boys are listening, we’ll continue to improve.