This season in the Capital Premier League, the Wagga City Wanderers return with their eyes set on becoming a finals team after finishing in sixth place on the ladder in 2023.
While they feel quite comfortable with their position in the competition so far, Wagga coach Andy Heller believes that the squad has not been making it easy on themselves.
“I think we have felt pretty comfortable in the games, we just haven’t made it easy for ourselves.” Heller shares. “We haven’t quite punished things when we should have, but I mean we’re getting the points.”
So far throughout the season, the squad and Heller have already identified what their main struggle will be for this year. With a new coach and only few returning players from the previous year, talent availability is seen to be their largest roadblock moving forward according to Heller.
“We’re a very new squad, I am new to this role as well,” he said. “I think we only have a handful of our first-grade team from last season or other season prior and I think we’ve had four or five injured out so for us coming into a Canberra competition, we struggle most with availability and injury which affects us quite heavily.”
Being a relatively new squad, Heller and the Wagga City Wanderers also highlight other important aspects as they progress through this season. While becoming a finals team and hoping to win the premiership is one of their main goals, it is also important to the club that they play a style of football that will attract other to join their squad.
“We are a new team so it’s important that the players want to come back next season and that we play a style of football that others want to play too,” Heller explained. “If we’re not able to attract players to come play by the way that we play football and the way that we approach games, that’s a problem for a small town.
“Personally, I see to it that we play good football and structured football, and then at the end of the season I want to see that players stay, more come back and more come to our club.”
With all that being said, Heller also acknowledges that his squad could display a little more ‘hunger’ for the premiership in the way that they play. While they may be getting the points to keep them in contention for finals, there is some work to be done in his eyes.
“We probably should be a little more aggressive in our approach but so far I think we’re getting the job done,” he shared.
As the competition progresses, the Wagga side continues to work towards making it into the finals series that they missed out on last year, while also fostering a positive environment that footballers want to be a part of. Heller believes the team has it in them but understand that the aspect of enjoying the game is equally as pivotal to the club’s overall success.
“I think the squad that we have, assuming everyone stays fit and healthy, we’re a finals team,” Heller revealed. “So, if we don’t achieve that this season it will be disappointing, but I want the players the enjoy the season more so than trying to win.”
Words: Kate Reedy
