Redbacks find feet under new head coach

THE Redbacks are looking for an aerobic advantage in isolation as Phil Cooney takes over as head coach.

NEW LOOK REDBACKS: Phil Cooney is hoping a new look for 2020 will help the side make finals again. Photo: Emily Clooney

AUSSIE RULES: If nothing else comes out of the coronavirus lay-off for the Warwick Redbacks, they will lay claim to be the fittest club across the Darling Downs.

The Redbacks are focused on fitness during their time away from the game, setting a goal of 1000km run across the members of the club.

The first week has seen an extraordinary response, with players already knocking off 553km in the space of a fortnight.

Coach Phil Cooney said it has continued on an improving pre-season and believes this will put his side in good stead for when the competition will commence.

“The way I look at it is that the skills side of the game is like riding a bike,” Cooney said.

“Even though they can always be improved, you’ve always got them.

“With the aerobic side of things, if you slack off, you will soon be found out and will bay for it.

“It’s a huge bonus for our boys to keep that up. You can always build on your skill-set, but it’s no good if you can’t do a lap around the oval.

“We’ve got players from Stanthorpe, a few from Toowoomba and Brisbane as well that have sacrificed a lot, albeit not at the moment, and the (local) boys have realised they’re putting in the effort from afar which has spurred them on.

“The camaraderie the boys have is strong.”

With the departure of 2019 player-coach Ben Heppell, Cooney steps into the head coaching role.

After a previous playing stint many years ago, Cooney said he is looking forward to the challenge of leading the Redbacks to the top after previous coaching experience in South Australia.

“As someone flippantly pointed out, I may go down as the first inaugural coach to go through a season undefeated, which I found quite amusing,” he said.

“I was born and bred an Adelaide Crow. I played in Victoria for a while, then went to North Queensland where footy wasn’t played back in the day.

“When I moved here 20 years ago the team was shortly created after that. I followed them for a few years because my son was very young.

“I got out to a few games when they were at Slade Park and pulled the boots on for a couple of games. There’s always been that interest and I’ve touched based with previous coaches and captains.”

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