NFL 2019: Laurimar not resting on laurels after maiden Division 3 finals appearance
JUSTIN Sherman knows the days of Laurimar flying under the radar are gone.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The days of Laurimar flying under the radar are gone.
The Power broke through for their first Northern Football League finals appearance this year, finishing fourth in Division 3.
The club experienced a steep rise in its first season under coach Justin Sherman, improving from a 2-14 record in its debut senior campaign to a 10-6 win-loss ratio this year.
JUSTIN SHERMAN SIGNS ON AS LAURIMAR COACH FOR 2019
MAIDEN FINALS BERTH WITHIN REACH FOR POWER
ONLY WAY IS UP FOR REBUILDING RESERVOIR
EPPING’S NEW COACH TO LEARN FROM PREMIERSHIP MENTOR
Sherman recognises Laurimar’s growth will result in greater attention from rival sides in 2019.
“We surprised a few and we probably didn’t expect it to happen as quickly as it did,” he said.
“But we made a final and I said to the boys at the start of last year if it comes quicker, we’ll take it.”
The former Brisbane Lion and Western Bulldog has no plans for the Power to go backwards, targeting a finals victory as the next step in the club’s progression.
“Now we have made a final, we want to try and win one,” Sherman said.
“That’s the next step in our development as a footy club and for me as a coach, just looking for ways to get better.
“Whether that’s personnel, players. Just try and find ways to improve that 1 or 2 per cent, which is hopefully going to take us another couple of steps further.”
Laurimar expects to retain most of the senior group which earned a historic finals berth, however rising star Jack Kreuzberger will not feature after moving to Horsham to study.
“They’re doing a lot right, they’re great kids, they want to learn and they want to get better,” Sherman said.
“As long as they continue to develop the way they are … we really feel the next 3-5 years are exciting for us.”
Sherman lauded the impact of on-ballers Luke Wilson and Mitch Thompson and said the addition of another senior midfielder to support the duo was his recruiting priority.
“We really feel that getting those extra leaders through our midfield will make us strong again and pretty formidable in there,” he said.
A clearance has been filed for Sherman to officially cross from Whittlesea, however he remains unlikely to make a playing return after sitting out 2018.
MORE LOCAL SPORT NEWS
OFF-SEASON HQ: THE LATEST COACH AND PLAYER MOVES
Son of a gun to lead Fairpark
The son of an Eastern league coaching stalwart will follow in his father’s footsteps as he takes the reins for the first time.
VFL Cat, GFNL gun on the move in major blow
One of the best players in the competition and his brother are heading back to their former club.