FOR Leopold captain Sam Scott, Round 1 can’t come quick enough as he looks to put the inglorious elimination final loss of 2019 behind him.
The Lions copped a 90-point hiding from St Mary’s, having lost to the Saints the previous week, which ensured the eventual premier played finals.
“The boys haven’t been stewing on it too much, (but) it hurt me because we got embarrassed in that game we played really poorly,” he said.
“For me, I just want another chance to play some good footy and see Leopold playing good footy.
“So that is the driving factor; to see Leopold back at our best.”
Since that loss, Guy Morphet has departed the club, replaced as coach by favourite son Jason Tom.
Scott says Tom, who last played with the Lions in 2015 before departing for a stint with Bannockburn, which yielded a premiership in 2019, has settled seamlessly into the role.
“He has been unbelievable, Jase,” Scott said. “One thing he is amazing at is his ability to build relationships – with new people coming in and some youth, he has been so good at building those relationships.”
“He is doing an amazing job as coach; it has been really great the last two years watching him.
“It is going to be great to see him coach his first game because it feels like he has been coaching for the last two years, but he hasn’t coached a game yet, so it will be exciting to see how we go this year.”
Scott says Leopold supporters can expect a slight adjustment to the game style that served them well under Steve Clark and Morphet as the Lions prepare to unveil a host of new faces against St Mary’s in Round 1.
“Naturally, when you bring in new people, the game style reflects new players,” he said.
“There will be some tweaks to our game plan, but that will be just to suit new individuals.
“The things we have done well for the last few years, hopefully, we will keep doing this year.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
