Putting in the hard yards
AFW chats with coach Ian Ferguson and CEO Dean Hassall about how things are traveling up in North Queensland.
How do you feel the squad-s shaping up? Ian Ferguson: I-m really pleased with the quality of players I-ve got in. We-ve got a balance of experience and younger ones, so I-m happy. I-m looking to get another three or four over the line but that will take a little bit of time. Dean Hassall: They-re putting together a very good roster; Ian-s doing a fantastic job. I think they-ll be very competitive.
How much of a blow was it that Jade North decided to leave before he-s even kicked a ball for you? IF: We were pleased we had him and disappointed that we lost him, but every player has aspirations and Jade has played in the A-League for the last four years and an offer came in that he couldn-t refuse. We wish him all the best. DH: These other teams offer very competitive money and good luck to him - he-s got a good opportunity to go over there to set himself up for life.
Have you already got a list of marquee replacements? IF: Yeah I-ve got three or four potentials that I-m looking at in different positions, but it-ll come down to the financial side of it and how much we can afford. I-m pleased with the four names I-ve got pencilled in and I hope we can get one of them.
What-s the response been like in the community? IF: Once we get everybody up there and we get into the community that-s when we-re really going to see what the response is. But just from walking down the street and meeting people it-s been fantastic; people have been shaking my hand and wishing me all the best. DH: They always get behind teams up there: they support the basketball team, the Cowboys and a national hocky team too. If we can get favourable draws they-ll travel, which is great for the economy as well.
What-s membership sales been like? DH: We-re getting weekly figures from our ticket agent and we-ve got some pre-Christmas targets that we look like achieving. We-ve also got a strong list of interest in corporate boxes; we-ve been very happy.
What do you make of the falling Hyundai A-League crowds? IF: It-s a bad time with the financial pressures and the global economy is not great at the moment. Plus the other factor is it it-s coming up to Christmas. DH: We-re concerned about it. There are a few factors: people aren-t in the best financial position at this point in time and the economy has worried a lot of people. All sports are feeling it. But I also think the two new teams will spark a lot of interest in the A-League, especially in Queensland with the derbies that-ll hopefully draw crowds.
How important will those first half dozen games be once the season gets underway? IF: You want to get a good start, because if you go and lose the first four games it-s a terrible start. DH: It-ll be extremely important - all the players will know we need to put in a good competitive run because success breeds success.
So there-s a bit of pressure on Ian-s shoulders ahead of his first job as head coach? DH: Yeah, but Ian-s very much looking forward to the challenge and he-s got a fantastic opportunity, but my experience with coaches is they always seem to be under pressure.
You just want to get the season underway presumably? IF: Definitely, I miss that feeling every morning of getting up and going into training and having a bit of banter with the boys. DH: Tremendously excited about that. We-ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears and hard work to get everything into place, there-ll be a lot of long hours but fun along the way too. So when that first ball is kicked when the season starts we-ll sit back and look at all the hard work and take the opportunity at the end of the game to have a nice cold beer.