ALF Drew knows the way the Port City Breakers play – he had a perfect view with a Macleay Valley Mustangs jersey on his back.
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Drew was a member of the Mustangs side who were beaten by the Breakers in last year’s Group 3 grand final.
But after an off-season chat with cousins Owen Blair and Richie Roberts, Drew will try to break into Dan Kemp’s back-to-back premiership winning side in 2018.
Kemp said Drew knows it won’t be easy, but he’s willing to work hard to force his way into the club’s top 17.
“He’s got a perfect attitude; he hasn’t missed a beat, hasn’t missed training and that’s what you want as a coach,” Kemp said.
“The boys like him; he’s worked his way into the group and that’s one of the biggest challenges for anyone at a new club.
“You’ve got to fit into the dynamic of the team.”
After spending a couple of seasons with the Mustangs and the Kempsey Cannonballs, Drew decided it was time for a change.
The boys like him; he’s worked his way into the group and that’s one of the biggest challenges for anyone at a new club.
- Port City Breakers coach Dan Kemp
And what better way to change things up than a move to a different club.
“I wanted to get out and experience a bit of being based in Kempsey, but playing in Port,” Drew said.
“I’ve been playing footy for a few years now; I played with the Cannonballs for a few seasons when the Vikings took it out.
“They were a tough side and it was good to play with a couple of those players and a bit of rep footy too.”
Drew said it was no secret the key to Port City’s success had been on doing the little things right.
“The preparation here is so much different to what I’m used to,” he said.
“The attitude towards training is different and there have been a few more boys that have shown up at this stage of the season than there would have been at the Mustangs.
“At the Mustangs, the pre-season consists of mainly fitness, but over here it’s a mixture of both footy and fitness which is really good.”
It doesn’t bother me where I play as long as I get on the field; I don’t mind if I run on or start off the bench.
- Port City Breakers utility Alf Drew
More at home at hooker, Drew will keep regular rake Jeremy Smith on his toes throughout the season.
But he was happy to play whatever role he was assigned by the coach.
“I’d like to bring a bit of versatility to the team and I see myself as someone who will get into the nitty gritty stuff like defence,” Drew said.
“It doesn’t bother me where I play as long as I get on the field; I don’t mind if I run on or start off the bench.”
He said his first impressions of his new coach Kemp had been positive.
“He is really good value; he has a good footy brain and knows what he’s talking about.”
