By RUSSELL BENNETT
IT WAS a fiery incident on Saturday, 3 May that made Pakenham Warriors’ Big V coach Ryan Rogers question his long-term commitment to the club.
One of the team’s exciting new recruits, Jamie Stow, didn’t take kindly to some feedback from Rogers during what turned out to be a 15-point win, 67-52. Early in the fourth quarter, during a timeout, Stow left the bench and walked to the change room. He picked up his things and left – never to be seen in a Warriors uniform again.
The incident was just one of a seemingly endless list of speed-humps that the team has faced in 2014. It all started with high-flying, highly-publicised recruit Chris Jones – who picked up an elbow injury playing at domestic level before Christmas and never took to Pakenham’s court for a Big V game.
Then there was Jay Ferriere – arguably the best point guard in Division 2 last season. A degenerative hip injury forced him to put his future first and into an early retirement at the start of the calendar year.
Then – the biggest shock of all. On the eve of the pre-season tournament – just a week before the season proper – Rogers got a phone call that rattled him to the core. The team’s leader, and all-star forward, James Topp was walking away from the game. Mentally, he was exhausted.
Rumours swirled that there was discontent among the Warriors’ playing ranks – that there was a divide between Rogers and his players. That still doesn’t sit well with him.
“I knew it was so far from the truth and I pride myself on my relationship with my players,” he said.
“What we were able to do last year, coming off that 2-18 season, was huge and that’s why the turnover of the roster didn’t paint a good picture.”
External expectations skyrocketed after the Warriors’ huge step forward last year after previously being an easy target, and Rogers said there was “a level of hate” from some outside the club.
“They thought we were paying as much as $30,000 for our roster which I found humorous considering I’d even contributed out of my own pocket to help a few of the guys cover their player sponsor, and my work is the team’s main sponsor,” he said.
So it’s little wonder on 3 May Rogers took a long hard look at where his team was situated.
“I knew something had to change and quick before the season had passed through our hands,” he said.
He stood in the Cardinia Life car park – deep in conversation with great mate, and new Warriors’ point guard, Cam Luke for 45 minutes.
“You question yourself, but it was a case of digging in,” Rogers said.
“When you compare everything that had happened in the season to that point, in comparison to the 12 months before, it was worlds apart on every front.”
So rather than letting time pass Rogers made a decision that would be questioned by many.
“I made one of the craziest decisions I ever had in my time as a coach – to recruit a player who I knew was never going to train with the team,” Rogers said of the Bairnsdale-based Savige.
“It’s not something that I’d even consider, apart from the fact that we were getting absolutely smashed on the rebounds and we were severely undersized.
“We needed to add someone of his size and stature and it’s been a perfect match for both parties.”
Savige is now averaging 14 points and 9 rebounds per game and will be a key part of the side’s playoff push.
With three rounds left before the playoffs, Pakenham is only percentage outside the top four. Despite everything, Rogers’ resilient group has stayed strong. Instead of Ferriere there’s Luke and the continued development of young James Magrath, instead of Topp there’s rising star and gun defender Hayden Davey, and instead of Jamie Stow and Chris Jones there’s the (nearly 206cm) 6’9″ Andrew Savige and Jim Viray.
“The team is still successful despite every possible hurdle and finals are still on the horizon,” Rogers said of the group that has won 10 of its 17 games so far.
As for Topp, don’t be surprised to see him back.
