It's been a challenging season for the Bond Pirates, but coach Dinidu Dayan continues to guide his Pirates through troubled waters.
We chatted with Dinidu to understand how's he managed to navigate trying conditions and keep his men motivated amidst an injury crisis.
GCDRU: If you had to give your season so far a report card grade, what would it be and why?
Dinidu Dayan (DD): While the ladder position doesn't reflect where we want to be, I'd give this group an A+ for character and commitment.
We've managed our squad through 12 injuries this season, and when you consider the number of clubs in this competition who've struggled just to put a first grade side on the park, the fact that we've turned up and competed every single week speaks volumes about the depth of character in this group.
GCDRU: What's been the standout performance or moment of your season to date and why?
DD: For me, every single game has been a standout performance.
We've averaged around 18 available players a week, which has meant most of this group playing full 80 minute shifts week in week out.
The fact they keep fronting up and giving everything they have is something I take enormous pride in as a coach.
GCDRU: Where has the biggest improvement in your side come from since the start of the season?
DD: Our work at the breakdown and our effort without the ball has been the clearest area of growth since round one.
Given the minutes this squad has had to absorb, that work rate has become non-negotiable, and it's an area the players have taken real ownership of.
GCDRU: What's the one area your side needs to tighten up in these last few rounds?
DD: Composure inside our opponent's 22 is the key area for us in these final rounds.
We're doing the hard work to get ourselves into scoring positions, now it's about trusting our process under pressure and converting that into points on the board.
GCDRU: Which of your player/s do you think will be most influential in the run home and why?
DD: It's genuinely difficult to single out one or two players.
Every member of this core group has been vital to our campaign, and I'm proud of each one of them as we push for our first win of the season.
