Out of the ashes

AFTER a less than auspicious season in 2006 the boys at the Warilla Gorillas camp are keen to show that last years performance is not indicative of the clubs capabilities.

Head Coach Josh Guyatt, who has spent the last 10 years with Collegians, says the club is committed to being competitive in 2007.

We want to be out there every week, showing the rest what our boys are made of, said Coach Guyatt.

Our goal is to match the performance of Shellharbour and Albion Park - a tough call, but I think the lads are up to it.

Theyre working hard, they train well together and theyve got a spirit that just wont die.

Last weeks training was nothing short of inspirational.

It will be a challenge, but theres only one way we can go after last year, and thats up.

The next few weeks will be critical in preparing the boys mentally - getting them thinking like the winners I know they can be.

Our season opener is on Friday night, March 30 against Kiama on their home ground, and I want people saying after that game - Warilla is back!

Club regulars Dean Alaban, Dan Cane, Wayne Borg, Andrew Gent, Dean allan, Peter Hooper (also Reserve Grade coach), Lee Clark and Damian Paulisson will be joined in 2007 by a number of new or returning players.

These include Ben Harvey, Travis Clark, Aaron Henry as well as Brian Johnton, who was dogged by injury through most of last season and Kevin Bridle, who also missed a fair percentage of the season through injury.

Also joining the first grade side will be Eli Hutchison and Alex Volcanovski who both played for the U18s last year and are, we are told, two names to watch out for in the year ahead.

Four players from Berkeley - Sean Findlay, Chris Marshall, Adrian Velasev and Glenn Christensen - will also move over to the Gorillas camp this season.

The Gorillas Mark Roberts says that Josh Guyatt will be ably assisted by Nathan Chinnick as co-coach.

This year, weve got a coaching staff of 18, which is a huge boost from last year, when we only had six, said Roberts.

Last year was a real struggle for us - our president was ill, we were short of funds and as we kept losing games, we started losing players.

This year, weve got a strong committee and a great head conditioner in Craig Sakey.

This year is the Clubs 40th Anniversary year and also our 25th Anniversary in the Clayton Cup.

The support we have got from sponsors this year is terrific and a special mention should go to Doug Hall, from Beach Street.

What Doug has done for the club, even during our darkest times, has been immeasurably valuable - hes always available, always supporting us.

He deserves a bloody medal.

Other sponsors include Sporties, Warilla Bowling Club, Snowy River Meats and Arrapelli Developments.