SWFL 2023: Busselton in an ideal position heading into pre-season training: Delaney

Busselton coach Daniel Delaney and his players need little reminder of the pain incurred from last season’s home elimination final loss against the Harvey Bulls.

Rather than wallow on the defeat, Delaney and the Magpies had been leaving no stone unturned in a bid to return to the promised land.

“It is burning in our guys’ guts in terms of how we went out last year,” Delaney said. “We started working right away on our recruiting — so it is just nice to be in the situation that we are in, in terms of the numbers we have got.

“It will mean we will bat really deep next year, which is really good.

“The boys are as keen as mustard for it. Credit to them, as they have taken the pre-season training prior to Christmas on their own, which is equally pleasing for us.”

While neighbours Dunsborough might be dominating some of the headlines with their new recruits, Delaney isn’t unduly worried by their arrival and is thrilled with the buy-in across all grades.

“Until a week ago, I had not stopped,” he said.

“Every week there were meetings, so we have had a busy couple of months. So now, I will recharge the batteries a bit. I am halfway through my Kevin Sheedy book, which has probably nearly taken me three years to get through, so maybe I will be able to get through the rest of it.

“We will get straight back into it on January 10, which everyone is bloody looking forward to.”