RECORD FEATURE: REBUILDING THE BUSHPIGS

It was mid-September and CSU had just locked in Romanos as major sponsor for another three years.

What could’ve been the punchline to a bad joke was, in actuality, one of a number of key decisions in the revitalisation of the student club.

Just a few days earlier, former Rand-Walbundrie mentor, Daniel Athanitis, had attended the Farrer League grand final with the Bushpigs, and would shortly be confirmed as coach.

For a club in danger of being sucked into a whirlpool of uncertainty 18 months ago, the two announcements were proof of just how far they’d come.

Athanitis signed on for two seasons, succeeding Ash Wheldon who stepped up to the job last year virtually on an interim basis allowing the club to start looking longer term in securing its future.

“Things aren’t going to happen overnight,” CSU president Tristan Robinson says.

“We’ve seen at a lot of other clubs in the league, it starts at the top with the committee and then getting the right coaching people in and that’s sort of what we wanted.

“It does make it easier when you’ve got a coach signed on early in the off-season and you’ve got an assistant coach (Jack Egan) that has been there the previous year.

““Definitely last year we took a few small steps in the right direction and now we’re taking a few more steps in the same direction.”

That means everything from sponsorship and facilities to something as simple as building a cabinet in the clubrooms to house the club’s trophies (for starters, there were another three netball premierships last season)  and memorabilia.

Evidence that it wasn’t just a turnaround on paper came when The Record attended pre-season training in early March and watched Athanitis put 45 players through their paces in a sharp session.

“We always refer back to that word ‘culture’ and I think it’s definitely building,” Robinson says.

“It’s really good seeing the new group of players come in and the old players bring them under their wing. We’ve really got a close group and it’s good to see.”

Training didn’t start until newcomers introduced themselves to their teammates, including a handful who the coach hadn’t even met.

That’s part of what makes coaching CSU a completely different gig. Whereas most clubs might have the odd player arrive completely unannounced and unheralded in the pre-season, the Bushpigs are relying on walk-ups.

“Basically, what is our club there for?” Robinson says.

“It’s to provide a safe yet fun and competitive environment for university students to play both netball and football. So we just had to get back to that ethos I suppose and remind ourselves why we do it.”

The club admits there is some luck involved, given the student numbers ebb and flow depending on university intake, and this season they’ve benefited from a 15% increase in the ag science course. But – as the Bushsows have done with the successful netball program – the ‘Pigs want to make sure they’re the club of choice students who come to Wagga.

“It’d be great for every kid that goes to CSU to play for CSU, if they’re not local obviously,” Athanitis says.

“Things don’t always work out that way but this year’s been a really positive year for that.”

Athanitis’ on-field approach is to keep things simple. With a reduced pre-season due to holidays, and plenty of new players, the coach’s philosophy is that the Bushpigs aim to “do the basics really well rather than do difficult things half-well.”

There’s been some publicity around the signing of a few talls – ruckman Dominic Smith from Newbridge in the Loddon Valley League and key position players Harrison Foott from Ocean Grove, near Geelong, and ex-Wagga Tiger Alex Reilly.

But the Bushpigs are hoping the big advantage will be in their depth this season.

“There’s 10 or 15 first year ag or vet science students that have moved up from Victoria or the odd one from Queensland and Perth and they’ve all played footy before,” Robinson says.

It’s only early, but Athanitis has enjoyed the change of scenery at the university club.

“It’s been certainly enlightening. It’s just a totally different feel where the players own the club in a way. Because we don’t have the veterans that played 10 years ago or 15 years ago, if the players don’t do it, it doesn’t get done. It’s quite unique.”

He’s also reminding himself it requires a different approach as coach.

“They’re here because they want to be here and that’s probably the best thing about this group. I’ve dealt with groups where you’ve recruited more than anything. But these boys are here because they want to be here and they want to enjoy themselves. And I’ve got to know that sometimes as well… that’s all part of going to uni too.”

Athanitis says the enthusiasm and professionalism of Robinson and his committee won him over from the start, along with the challenge of being part of something special.

“We’re not promising miracles or anything like that but to be competitive would be great,” he says, conscious that the club has only one win to its name since May 2013.

For inspiration, the Bushpigs can always look to their netball counterparts, who have dominated the league in recent years.

“Pre-season’s been really strong – we’ve had quite a few numbers and lots of new faces to the club which is always great to see… I think expect big things,” CSU netball vice-president, Grace Eppelstun, told AFL Riverina TV at the season launch last week.

Many of the netball coaches have stepped aside but remain as players, including A-grade mentor Kristen McKenzie who has handed the reins to the experienced Jenee West – Eppelstun’s prediction for best player in the A-grade competition.

“She’s a former best and fairest winner in the Riverina League so we’re expecting big things from her,” Eppelstun said.