By Jonty Ralphsmith
New Skye coach Aaron Pacey is out to make Skye relevant again.
A premiership player at the Bombers in 2009, Pacey returns after a stint away from the club with the focus on the basics.
Skye’s only two victories of last season came over the winless Heatherton, but there is an expectation Skye will improve given the respect the playing-coach holds.
The inability to run out games was a glaring issue in 2022, which led to a plethora of blow-out losses, resulting in Skye finishing with a percentage of just 63.
Separate losses to Highett, when the club held a 31-point three-quarter-time lead, and 38-point quarter-time lead, underlined their challenges.
In that second game, Skye failed to score a goal after the first break.
For preseason, Pacey brought in the respected Andrew Schneider to implement a fitness regime tailored to the club.
Skye has already seen the benefits of his work as the squad was better able to run out practice matches than opponents Carrum Patterson Lakes and Frankston Dolphins.
“We want to earn back respect and, from what I have heard, that has dropped off with a lack of effort,” said Pacey.
“We want to get people back to the football club and have them enjoy what they see and be proud of the way they play.
“We have plenty of space, we will try to use the ball and flick it around by foot.”
While the club was established only 17 years ago, embedding an understanding of the history within the current squad is another focus.
That started with inviting some figureheads to a training camp in Warburton.
“We had them stationed in different areas and tell their story and it was really cool, with 36 blokes climbing up this stupid bloody hill (Mount Donna Buang) and to get the backstories of these guys who have shaped the club is pretty powerful,” Pacey explained.
“We plan on having jumper presentations and past players days and also want to bring one in every week or two to come and have a chat to the boys about what it is to be part of the Skye Footy Club, and what it meant to them and continue to tell their stories.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Joel McConville: The ball magnet has led the way in preseason and been instrumental in encouraging a new style
Tom Houston: An inside mid with a good skillset in space as well, returns to the club after a year off footy in 2022.
Jarrod Sullivan: An athletic runner with impressive top-end speed.
Rhys Stewart: Offers versatility with aptitude in defence, on the wing or in the guts, he’s expected to have a big year and has a happy knack of finding it.
Ben Evans and Brad Dyer: The key forward duo will have an important job inside 50, given Skye aren’t necessarily blessed with height as a whole and that pair has it. Both have good hands and read the ball well, with Dyer set to play game 200 in round one and Evans coming off an interrupted 2022.
Skye fixture
Round 1: Saturday 15 April v Caulfield (away).
Round 2: Saturday 22 April v Keysborough (home)
Round 3: Saturday 29 April v Black Rock (away).
Round 4: Saturday 6 May v East Malvern (home).
Round 5: Saturday 13 May v East Brighton (away).
Round 6: Saturday 20 May v Doveton Doves (home).
Round 7: Saturday 27 May v Hampton Park (away).
Round 8: Saturday 3 June v Highett (home).
Round 9: Saturday 17 June v Murrumbeena (away).
Round 10: Saturday 24 June v Caulfield (home).
Round 11: Saturday 1 July v Keysborough (away).
Round 12: Saturday 8 July v Black Rock (home).
Round 13: Saturday 15 July v East Malvern (away).
Round 14: Saturday 22 July v East Brighton (home).
Round 15: Saturday 29 July v Doveton Doves (away).
Round 16: Saturday 5 August v Hampton Park (home).
Round 17: Saturday 12 August v Highett (away).
Round 18: Saturday 19 August v Murrumbeena (home).
