With Ballarat Red Devils’ first game of the season against Bentleigh Greens postponed until August 30, just what strengths their squad possesses will remain a mystery until their next game against Green Gully in the Dockerty Cup.
The Red Devils’ player-coach James Robinson was disappointed to see the club’s opening fixture scrubbed off by circumstances beyond their control, especially because it would have given them an idea of just where they stand.
“It’s nothing that we could’ve controlled so we just prepared the best we could and we were ready for this evening,” Robinson said.
“With tonight’s game not getting played we would’ve been able to gauge where we’re at and that would have been a good sign to see where to go forward so obviously we’ll wait and see till next game.”
Many have raised eyebrows about the inclusion of Ballarat in the top division of the NPLV, especially with the side finishing rock bottom in State League 2 North West last year.
Robinson doesn’t listen to those that doubt the footballing ability of the squad, preferring to focus on working with what he has in front of him.
“It’s not about underestimating us,” he said.
“It’s just controlling what we can control and then people will form their own opinions.
“That’s down to them, that’s not down to us, we don’t worry about that, we’ll just worry about what happens with us and what we can control.”
The Red Devils squad is yet to be finalised, and Robinson has indicated he’ll be looking towards their youth squad if he can’t find any players who fits his plan.
“I’ve got still a bit of space but we’ll wait and see,” he said.
“It’s got to be the right person, and that’s the biggest thing for us, we got to have the right people coming to our squad and that’s the biggest thing.
“So we’ve got the space for one more and if not we’ll bring on of the youngsters up and give them a chance, because that’s what we’re all about, we’re about promoting our local boys.
“If no one is ready to come into our environment we’ll just give one of the younger boys a chance.”
This will also be Robinson’s first real coaching opportunity, and he’s relishing every minute of the job at hand.
“It’s fantastic, I love coaching. It’s the next best thing to playing,” he said.
“It’s exciting times not just for Ballarat but for the region and the NPLV so it’s a good time to be involved in things and we’re the unknown at the minute so we’ll see how we go.”