When Shane Lenon arrives at Langtry Oval on Saturday for his first game as Marrar coach, he admits there’ll be more than a few nerves.
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But those butterflies in the stomach might be better described as fire in the belly.
“I think once I stop getting nervous, it probably means it’s time to go and look for something else to do,” Lenon says.
“Nerves are a good thing – it means something to you.”
It’s seven years since Lenon last coached in the Farrer League –ironically, a grand final thumping of the Bombers by Collingullie in 2010, before the Demons’ move to the Riverina League.
Signed in a blaze of publicity back in August, Lenon knows that his record (four Farrer and three Riverina League premierships as a coach) means that expectation arrives with him, at a club staring down 20 years without a flag.
“Pressure’s a part of it, like expectation,” he says.
“If you haven’t got expectations, you’re done and dusted before you start.
“But that’s the beauty of a new season too. I think if you asked every coach at every club, there’d be expectation there. But in saying that, it’s all about what happens once the ball’s bounced and the fair dinkum stuff starts.”
Within the club, Lenon says playing finals is the only expectation he’s talking of.
No different, he believes, to every other team at this stage. But in the early days of his tenure, there are other measures.
“As a coach, what I’m after is improvement, getting the game plan right and having everyone on the same page,” he says.
“And, so far – so good. I reckon it’s been spot on, up to this stage.”
That includes two practice match wins against Riverina League clubs Collingullie-Glenfield Park and Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong.
Not carried away with results, he has been impressed with Rory Block and emerging star Jack Reynolds.
“He’s had a really good pre-season… he’s a young bloke with plenty of ability, he’s an exciting prospect,” Lenon says of Reynolds.
The Bombers are without midfielder Josh Hagar (overcoming injury) and ruckman Nick Molkentin (unavailable) for the game against Temora, but will unveil key recruits including Jesse Margosis, Geoff Spriggs, Jordan Matthews and Brad Moye.
But Lenon isn’t underestimating the Kangaroos, under Jake Wooden, and welcoming back Matt Harpley and Robbie Drummond.
“They've kept their losses to a minimum and they’ve added some good quality back into the side, and a new coach,” Lenon says. “I’d say they’ve got a lot to look forward to and I think it’ll be a really good hit-out for round one.”
