Watsonia coach George Lattouf details the club’s plans to survive COVID-19
Watsonia is making player welfare its top priority during the COVID-19 lockdown with re-signed coach George Lattouf saying his players are going to “run around like little kids” when footy returns.
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Player welfare is the top priority for Watsonia during the COVID-19 lockdown, with the NFL club checking in on members weekly.
The Saints have established protocols to ensure players, staff and even sponsors are supported mentally as well as physically while they’re away from the club.
Building a strong club culture has been coach George Lattouf’s aim since arriving at AK Lines Reserve in 2019.
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Lattouf has committed to leading Watsonia for 2021 and said player welfare was critical without footy and access to mates.
“The No.1 thing at our club is player welfare,” Lattouf said.
“We make sure we communicate with our players weekly, we keep them updated and check on them individually.
“I’m very fortunate that our committee do a lot of work in the background and the support I get from Brett Potter, our director of coaching, and my senior assistant Jeremy Bennett has been really good.
“We’re building a strong culture at the club, it starts at the top and it filters right through our playing group.”
Co-captains Adrian Alfonsi and Ben Sutherland, best-and-fairest winner Daniel Watson and senior players Kyle Kemp, Jamie Haber, Michael Perfetto and Josh Novelli have all re-signed for next season.
The club is looking to cement its place in NFL Division 2 after three wins in 2019 saw them finish above only Epping.
The Saints have plans in place for a return to training when government restrictions ease.
Lattouf was looking forward to bringing his playing group back together and said it would be like a return to childhood.
“We’re putting a strategy together for the next couple of months but we’ve got to wait until we get the tick from the authorities,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to that first day when we can get the whole group together, there’ll be a big smile on my face.
“I reckon we’re just going to run around like little kids, that’s what I’m looking forward to.
“It’s been very encouraging, a lot of our players have committed for next year.
“That’s been lead by our leadership group, especially our co-captains Adrian and Ben.”