AWFA improvers Wodonga Diamonds want to more more progress in 2021

Daniel Griffin has signed on for a second year as coach and spoke to The Border Mail about how his side is shaping up 2021.

BEAU GREENWAY: What's the year been like for you since the cancellation of the AWFA season?

DANIEL GRIFFIN: We've still kept in touch and there's lots of banter going on in the group chat. We always make sure we wish each other happy birthday when it's that time just as a matter of keeping the group alive so to speak. We really wanted to make sure we were keeping the chatter going and keeping the guys engaged.

BG: Dylan Nhansana returned to the club from Boomers this year and was appointed captain. Is he set to retain that role?

DG: He is in his fourth year of uni next year which is 16 weeks of placement, so he is unsure if he will play and if he does, whether he can train. I would like for him to remain captain.

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BG: Do hope to maintain the majority of the squad?

DG: We're expecting to lose a couple that were planning to move to Melbourne, but with COVID and the way things are going, they might end up staying for another 12 months. There were a couple of guys who didn't get to play, so it's like having brand new players. We'll be looking to strengthen a couple of key positions as well.

BG: Restrictions don't allow for Victorian clubs to resume contact training just yet but do you hope to get back earlier for pre-season?

DG: Part of the plan is to bring pre-season forward by two or three weeks. A lot of them have been doing their own thing, which is great, but we've had a longer break than we normally would. We want to get that extra work in so come February and March next year we're not behind the eight ball.

BG: Most clubs seem keen for the AWFA to run a knockout cup competition under lights next year. Where do you sit on that?

DG: I think it's a great idea. It's something I thought should be happening for a long time. We need some sort of midweek fixture where senior coaches can start to expose some of the younger players on the fringes to a bit of senior action. We've got some fantastic kids that are probably pretty close to playing seniors. They might miss out one week and come in for a cup game midweek and get a chance to earn their spot for the following weekend.

BG: Do you think the sport will benefit from more games being played across the region?

DG: That's what it's all about - more football. The more people we can get to football, the better supported it becomes and the better resourced it becomes. The big rivalry at the moment is Myrtleford and Wangaratta and I'd love to see them play round one on Friday night, under lights. Make a spectacle of that and some of the bigger games because everyone is going to watch them.