YOU can say a lot of things about the Berkeley footy club, just don't mention the word 'rebuilding'. Sure, that's precisely what they've done since returning from the Illawarra League wilderness three seasons ago, but in 2019 the bar is set much higher.
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In fact only a finals appearance will get a pass mark from coach Aaron McDonald. It makes sense given the nudge they gave the top sides last season, with a bunch of tight losses costing the Eagles what would've been a welcome return to the playoffs.
Now in his fourth year at the helm, McDonald says it's time to move past mere competitiveness as a benchmark and start turning close losses into wins.
"The club's done a great job over the last three years across the juniors and seniors but [rebuilding] is definitely not our mentality in first grade this year," McDonald.
"Definitely within the core guys there who've been there since, if not my first year, my second year there's a desire to put ourselves in the best position we can be in. We got close last year but being close isn't going to be good enough this year.
"We're focusing on 80 minute efforts this year and making sure those games we went close, six to four points in it, go our way this year."
The club has been dealt a huge blow in the lead-up to their season-opener with marquee recruit Shannon Wakeman departing the Illawarra to take up a job opportunity in North Queensland.
It comes after 2018 Back of the Year Ben White's decision to return to England to pursue opportunities in the Super League.
They're large holes to fill, though mitigated by the arrival of 2017 leading point-scorer Grayson Goodwin and fellow former Collegians star Mason Pure. They join a core group McDonald's fostered in his previous three years in charge.
"Unfortunately we lost Wakey this week, he got offered a job up in a Mackay," McDonald said.
"It's a little bit disappointing to lose someone of his calibre but I'm still confident in the people we've brought in and that we can do the job we want to do this year.
"We're going to have to change the way we play a little bit not having Benny there from last year and taylor it to the strengths we do have.
"It'll mean a rejig of how we want to play our football but I'm confident the guys we have there can do the job for us."
Some near misses saw the Eagles nipping at the heels of the top four for most of last season and McDonald says his side need to produce a strong start to avoid doing the same in 2019 - starting with Corrimal at Ziems Park on Saturday.
"I think being a real focus on making sure we don't chase teams," McDonald said.
"On preseason form I don't think there's going to be an easy game in the comp this year. Most teams are going to have to be switched on each game or things can change very quickly.
"Corrimal have done really well in the preseason and they'll be pumped for a big one out there. We need to make sure we start on a positive note and go on with it."