Picton coach Brett Morley believes his side will be better for the experience of a successful 2016 season, but insists they won’t be able to scoot under the radar again during the coming IPL campaign.
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The Rangers were the competition’s surprise packets in their first season back in the IPL as they toppled more fancied rivals to sneak into the finals in fifth spot.
They are keen to repeat the feat in 2017, but Morley knows his squad have a challenge in front of them to make it happen.
“I think a few of the other sides would be disappointed with how they went last year and have built up in the off-season where we have built up but don’t have the sort of money other clubs do so brought some young guys in,” he said.
“We will be honest. We will do the same as we did last year and will give it a crack every week.
“Hopefully we can progress equally as good as we did last year. It is probably going to be a hard act to follow. I think we mightn’t go under the radar as well this year.”
Picton kick-off their IPL season at Hume Oval against Tarrawanna on Saturday. They also began their FFA Cup campaign last Sunday with a 3-0 away win over Sydney North West.
Morley felt the game provided crucial match practice on the eve of the regular season.
“I wasn’t that keen on entering into it but it panned out really good because it filled in a week that we wouldn’t have got anything else done anyway,” he said.
“We were pretty dominant. I think they are a local premier league side but probably aren’t something we are going to come up against. We tried a few things and I gave a few of the young boys a look so it was good for a few reasons.”