Unbeaten Goodwood Saints top amateur football’s division one ladder after 14 rounds
LADDER-leading Goodwood Saints coach Trent Mills knows too well amateur footy clubs do not win flags in July, August or even the second week of September.
GOODWOOD Saints coach Trent Mills knows too well amateur footy clubs do not win flags in July, August or even the second week of September.
The Saints are top of the division one ladder, unbeaten after 14 rounds and are two wins clear of second-placed Rostrevor Old Collegians.
But they were in the premiership mix the past four seasons, only to lose preliminary finals each year.
Mills says those defeats are constant reminders to his squad that the club’s stellar start means little if it does not win the grand final.
“The last four years we’ve had the disappointment of being knocked out in preliminary finals and the players have used that as a spur,” Mills says.
“At present, all we’ve given ourselves is an opportunity to finish in the top two or three – it’s up to us to either take that opportunity or not.
“But we don’t feel we’re undefeated because no-one talks about it.
“We’ve been playing well but there’s a long way to go.”
Mills’ time at Goodwood has coincided with a stunning run of success at the club.
The former South Adelaide midfielder was a playing assistant in 2005 when the Saints won their first of five consecutive premierships and took over as senior coach the following season.
Goodwood has not finished lower than third in the past nine years.
“We’ve had people that retire and new people come in but we’ve been able to attract good people and good players,” Mills says.
Veterans Kris Vanderloo, Matthew Smith and Ric Giles left Goodwood at the end of last season.
The Saints’ recruits included former Richmond midfielder Shane Tuck and spearhead Eric Kells, who returned to the club after a few years at Tea Tree Gully.
“Our older guys have maintained where they’re at and the younger guys continue to improve,” Mills says.
Mills says the club does not take its success for granted and winning another flag will be massive.
“At the start of the year there’s 10 sides that want to win the division one premiership and that’s our ultimate goal.”