Bullish on improving

The Harvey Bulls endured a turbulent 2019 season for a variety of reasons.

Aside from the tragic death of promising youngster Lachlan Hernaman during a training session, the Bulls struggled with playing numbers throughout the league campaign.

Things were brighter for the women’s team, however, with Adrian Kirk’s side reaching the preliminary final, before they were convincingly defeated by perennial nemesis Bunbury.

The wind of change has been blowing feverishly at the Harvey Recreation Ground over the off-season, with Craig Nicholls moving on as league coach, along with Fleur Parker, Lisa Worsfold, Matilda Worsford, Zoe Worsfold and Courtney Bayliss from the women’s team.

But new Bulls boss Alan Douglas is heartened by what he has seen over the pre-season and is optimistic his side can be competitive.

The Bulls hosted the Waroona Demons in a scratch match last Friday, with more than 400 people heading along to watch.

“It was under lights and fantastic,” Douglas said. “It was quite exciting and the first time I had coached the team.

“Half of the team had not played with each other. But we have built a good squad and are very fit.

“We got beaten comprehensively by about six goals, but in the second half we outscored them, which was good.

“In terms of fitness, we also ran the game out really well and towards the end of the game we got to know and understand each other, which allowed us to work on game plans.”

Douglas is not planning to reinvent the wheel this year at the Bulls, irrespective of when the season starts.

“The main thing is just to be competitive,” he said.

“I go back to the basics of football — it is just a game. We must be solid in defence and free flowing in attack.

“Get back to the old-fashioned roots of football and have a team-based culture, to be disciplined — and then after that, to enjoy the sport.”

The Bulls will field a young side once again, with six players too old for colts likely to push for senior selection.