AFTER travelling from Brisbane to play for Oxley Vale-Attunga every week last season, Mitchell O'Keefe was eager to find more stability in his football in 2019.
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After relocating to Tamworth late last year, the striker now finds himself coaching the Mushies' first- and second-grade sides.
"Not having to travel back and forth every week should hopefully make things much simpler," O'Keefe told the Leader.
"I don't regret doing it though: I had played at a few different clubs in Brisbane and there wasn't anywhere like the Mushies.
"It's a club that means so much to me, that's why it wasn't too big of a deal to travel every week and that's why I'm really looking forward to coaching this season."
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By coaching both sides, O'Keefe hopes his players will be "more driven" than they were in 2018.
"The big reason behind the move to coach both sides was to bring in a bit more discipline," he said.
"Last year our training sessions weren't all they could be, so by training together we can ensure everyone in both grades gets something out of it and is prepared to do well on the weekends."
O'Keefe said the new style of training had already began to show positive results.
"Certainly I think the drive is there with our guys already.
"Everyone is keen to achieve this season," he said.
"We came back to training in mid January and have been averaging about 30 people per training session.
"Everyone has been feeling it after every session and, by training together, everyone will be prepared to play in both first and second grade."
While the Mushies have lost several key players in the past few years, O'Keefe is confident some new recruits will make their mark in 2019.
"One big inclusion for us this season is Jack Diebold, who joins us from Newcastle and the NPL," he said.
"So far he has been really impressive on the training track and I'm sure he will make quite the impact this season."
The Mushies will have the bye in round 1 before travelling to East Armidale for their first game of the season in round 2.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
