STRIKERS senior coach Robin Caulfield has been gearing up this week in anticipation of a big weekend.
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Not only will a win tomorrow secure his side top of the table honours in the last game of the season, but the Englishman will also be making a final game cameo on the pitch.
Albeit a short but effective appearance earlier this year, it will be the first time in three decades the 55-year-old Englishman would have laced his boots competitively.
When he previously made his last minute decision for a run, he led the Strikers reserve grade to their sole victory this season. He’ll be hoping lightning strikes twice as he prepares to run out for them again tomorrow.
“To be fair the guys in the second team have been asking when I’m going to get the boots on and they’ve worn me down,” Caulfield said.
“Let’s hope fate smiles twice.”
While he hopes he can lead the reserves to finish the season with a win, it’s his senior squad who he hopes will be making an impact.
They take on the Monaro Panthers, with victory all but securing top of the table honours.
The standard the boys have been playing deserves that, it would be almost criminal for the boys if we don’t finish this season with some silverware because the boys have worked really hard,” he said.
“It’ll probably be two teams that will be going for a win so it should make for entertaining watching.”
Caulfield knows all too well the importance of entering the finals in winning ways.
The Strikers dominated the majority of the season, but fell to a form slump in recent weeks which saw the side lose three out of four games.
“The only thing I can put it down to is personnel. We had a few injuries, a few illnesses, people had trips arranged, and all of a sudden we couldn’t buy a win,” he said.
“I think football is all about being bad. It’s all about behaviour attitude and discipline and maybe we’ve lost that a little bit and our good start might have contributed to that. Peoples attitudes change because they think they’re not going to get beaten.
Well unfortunately we have been, and we know we have been, so that makes us try that bit harder.”
Catch the Strikers in their last home game of the season at Strikers Park tomorrow.
Reserves kick off at 1pm with Caulfield aiming to lead the way.
First grade kicks off at 3pm against the Monaro Panthers.
