Miners’ title on the books

By Marc McGowan
TEAM harmony could be the biggest factor for an improved Berwick Miners outfit when they begin the new Gridiron Victoria season at home on Saturday.
Miners coach Mel Martin is confident his charges can challenge defending champions the Monash University Warriors for this year’s title.
The Warriors knocked Berwick out in their semi-final clash last year, but Martin feels a better team bond will help his side take the next step.
“The attitude and culture around the club has improved 100 per cent (and) there is a genuine expectation that we’ll do very well this year,” he said.
“What we needed to improve was the players being together and getting to know each other rather than just playing gridiron together.
“We worked hard during the pre-season to get that happening.”
Martin is tipping the Warriors to be competitive again and for the Croydon Rangers and the Geelong-based Bay City Buccaneers to also feature strongly.
The Western Crusaders and Southern Seahawks complete the six-team competition.
Miners starting quarterback Sam Walker, the league’s most valuable player in 2007, will have a new offensive team to work with.
Seahawks recruit Tom Pitt has beaten Andrew Crawford, Craig Vitale and Jamie Jamison for the starting running back job, while newcomers Rick Brown and Matt Ciavellia will bolster the wide receiving corps.
Pitt was fourth on the depth chart at the start of the pre-season, but Martin said he has impressed the coaching staff with his hard work and vast improvement.
Martin expects his rookies to be more prepared than previous years after a long pre-season, but is most excited about Walker’s off-season progress.
“Sam is working very well indeed. I think he’s taken a step forward just this pre-season from where he was last year,” he said.
“A little more technique coaching has improved him and he’s a year older – remembering he’s still a very young quarterback and has just turned 21.
“We’ve named him as offensive captain, so he’ll be leading the team from the front.”
Veterans Mark Petana and Scott Sunderland are the squad’s co-captains, while second-year player Ross Oliver is defensive captain.
Rookies Ryan Harry and Kerrod Bowman are primed for big seasons at the defensive end and Donte Newton – back after a year off – and Rob Zimmerman will also be prominent.
Berwick’s 2009 campaign kicks off against the Crusaders at Sydney Pargeter Reserve on Sunday at 2pm.