Navarre football club setting themselves for a much improved 2021 season after finding some balance within their coaching and playing group.
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2019 was a challenging year for Navarre in the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League as they finished 11th on the ladder with five wins to their name.
But they also finished the season with a percentage of 96, showing a competitiveness across the season, that didn't quite translate into wins.
Heading into 2021 senior coach Jimmy Driscoll is hoping he can help create a football team that plays with control, no matter the opposition.
"We are hoping to play a really controlled brand of football," he said.
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"We have focussed on our defensive side and then how we transition to attack and conversely when we get the footy how quickly can we get back and defend.
"To be honest I don't really know too much about anyone else, Carisbrook and Lexton are always hard to beat, but I'm more worried about us and perfecting the way we want to play.
"I think if play the way we want to and know we can, then it doesn't matter who we are playing against."
Driscoll also highlighted Navarre's blend of talented youngsters and experienced players could help them throughout the year.
"We also have some good local kids and some experienced premiership players and so I think we have a really good mix," he said."
"And if we can get first use through Josh Folkes and Sam Kay, Daniel Redding, Lewis Hannett, then they can bring in the younger guys like Riley Bibby and Dallas Flanagan into the game.
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"This should give us a pretty balanced line-up right across the ground."
For round one of the season on April 24, Navarre will have a settled line-up with only Josh Driscoll leaving the club and Daniel Redding returning to the group.
But Driscoll is looking forward to seeing some of their key players come together in 2021.
"Riley Bibby hasn't missed a session, not only this year, but last year as well and another aspect to his game has been his leadership, so he is definitely one to watch," he said.
"Jayden Folkes, coming back from a shoulder reconstruction, has been looking fit and strong and, Nick Murphy's on-ground leadership and his footy smarts will be massive for us."
As for his hopes of the season, Driscoll is keeping balanced.
"In terms of massive improvement, I don't think there needs to be huge improvement, but with a few personal changes and tweaking a few things here and there and we should be more than competitive."
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