Dylan Hill’s only new to the coaching caper in Group 11, but the young Macquarie mentor knows there’s only one currency worth dealing in – wins.
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After a less-than-ideal start to the new season with a 36-26 loss to the Spacemen in Parkes, the Raiders get a chance to kick-start their campaign with a clash against another of the group’s southern giants, Forbes, on Sunday at Apex Oval.
Jake Grace, Ben Maguire, Ben Robinson; Hill knows it won’t be easy, but he’s confident Raiders fans can expect a more polish Macquarie when the hosts welcome a tough-as-nails Magpies outfit to Dubbo and start racking up a few wins.
“Our forwards have to match the Forbes forwards,” Hill said.
“They do have Gracey. Maguire’s always a handful and Robbo carts the ball forward all the time.
“If we can match their intent through the middle of the field I’m pretty confident our backs, there’s enough points there with Ash, BJ and with their speed.”
Ash Widders and BJ Gordon are renowned speedsters, as is recruit Sam Coe.
Coe though, started the season in the halves and Hill is expected to move one of his side’s biggest attacking threats to the back for Sunday’s round two clash.
“He’s more of a ball runner, that’s where he’s a threat,” Hill said.
Macquarie made giant strides early in the off-season with the signature of Isaac Gordon while the Raiders’ promising under 18s that won last season’s junior title look set to continue to filter through into grade.
But without a player like Josh Merritt, a dominant half that’s controlled the Raiders’ attack for a number of years, means others have to step up.
And Hill says his new-look team will take time to gel.
“Definitely, it wasn’t ideal start last week. We were confident thinking we’d come away with it,” the new Raiders coach said.
“Tuesday we spoke about our issues, addressed those and we’ll lift our discipline and our attack.
“Hopefully we’ll put the things we spoke about at training into place.
“I was hoping we’ll have it all firing in the first couple of weeks but it doesn’t always work that way. We’re still gelling.
“We’re using these first couple of rounds to work on our structure.”
All the while, hoping to crack that first victory, too.
Hill is hoping a positive result on Sunday can help the Macquarie club’s push for another finals appearance this winter.
“Early wins takes that pressure off though,” he added.
The Raiders welcome Forbes to Apex Oval on Sunday.
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
