Sanctuary Lakes coach Nick Waddell will not pre-empt whether the Western Region Football League’s decision to split its senior section into three tiers will prove a positive move for his club or the league.
The Sharks and five other clubs will be used as guinea pigs in the formative stages of a new division 3 competition.
PICTURE GALLERY: Sanctuary Lakes v Caroline Springs
After this week’s round of matches, the Sharks will join Albanvale, Braybrook, Laverton Magpies, Tarneit and North Sunshine in the six-team third division, while the top eight clubs will fight it out for the division 2 flag and promotion to the top flight.
Waddell said it was hard to form an opinion until he saw how the drop to a third division impacted the club this offseason.
“It’s going to be a matter of whether we can recruit guys to come to a division 3 club,’’ he said. “Some of our kids may get poached to play at a higher level.”
All clubs entered the season with the understanding that the WRFL would split into three divisions. A distinct line would be drawn between the top eight and the bottom six in division 2.
It’s funny how it panned out, with the top eight sides proving far superior to the bottom six after each side played once.
“There’s no grey area with the bottom six and the top eight,” Waddell said.
“The best eight are definitely there; they’re recruited the best and have easily spent the most money. They’re clearly ahead of the bottom six.”
The Sharks, an expansion club in their second season of senior footy, took a conservative path. Instead of spending up to keep hold of their division 2 position, they let the natural evolution process take place.
Waddell and the committee refused to “liquidate” the club’s future on silly short-term contracts in the search for instant gratification.
“They’ve [the top eight] spent money on the wanting to stay up, but it’s not the way we wanted to do it,” Waddell said. “We want to build the club the right way.
“We’re starting from the bottom and building up.”
The Sharks have a solid foundation, both on and off field. They are proud of their facilities at Featherbrook Reserve with quality lightning and a good surface.
Their squad is full of youngsters keen to improve who approach the game with the right attitude.
“I’ve had most of these kids for a long time through the junior ranks, whether that be Altona, Point Cook or even coaching against them,” Waddell said.
“Most of them are 19 to 20 and they’re not there for the money, they’re there to play with their mates.
“They love training, they love keeping fit and doing work outside of footy.
“They saw an opportunity to build a footy club from scratch.”
The Sharks will face Manor Lakes in their last division 2 outing at home on Saturday.
They will begin life in the third division a week later in the unfamiliar position of premiership favourites.
