By ROY WARD
DANDENONG Thunder coach Chris Taylor has urged the club’s board to do everything it can to keep his side together.
The Thunder beat Oakleigh Cannons 2-1 in the Victorian Premier League grand final last Sunday, securing the first treble in 31 years after winning the minor premiership and the State Knockout Cup title.
But amid the post-match celebrations, Taylor predicted his best players would top the list of other VPL clubs who intended to raid his side with big money offers.
“I think the challenge is consistency,” he said. “We have a very, very good side there but, as is the case in this league, a lot of our top players will get approached by other clubs, so it’s up to our club to put the structure in place. Because if we can keep this team together, it’s a team that doesn’t just win, but wins in style.”
The Thunder lost several leading players from its 2011 side to other VPL sides and Taylor expects to face the same pressures during the off-season.
The coach also turned his eye to building a dynasty at the club that had never won the VPL title until Sunday.
“Everything fell into place. It’s the best group of boys I’ve ever had to work with. The chemistry in the dressing room is what you try to fix up straightaway and that has been really good for us.
”The boys stuck together and the rewards are there. We got the treble and I’d go as far to say we are the best VPL team in at least the past 10 years.”
Thunder captain Shane Rexhepi said he was overwhelmed by the treble.
“I just dropped to the floor,” he said. “It was an unbelievable effort, not for just this year but in my whole time at Dandenong. In the past four years all the effort we’ve put in as a club, it was worth it today.”
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