Jeremy Laidler gives some great insight into his approach as VFL Coach. He talks about developing the talent at the next level down, preparing the players for AFL standard and taking on the Southport Sharks tonight in Friday night footy on the Gold Coast.

The VFL side currently sit in fifth place on the ladder with eight wins from 12 matches and have won their last three matches in-a-row.

The team finding their groove

As a team we were a little bit inconsistent early on in the year but we have found a bit in the last month especially on what we expect and how we need to play as a team to get those wins. It's not all about winning football at VFL level as we are here for the AFL but if we can get that success it's obviously positive because the demeanour of the group really drives off that. It's been really positive from our first-year players through to someone like Cal Sinclair in his 10 plus years, they have just gelled so well which makes me really happy.

‘AFL Standards’

As a team we want to try stick to AFL standards but individually I try and coach the boys on what they are expected to do at AFL level, even if they are playing VFL. I suppose it gets them ready to play AFL when they do get their chance, the aim once you get into the AFL you want to try and stay there for as long as you can and cement your spot, it’s not as easy as it sounds but that's why we put things in place at VFL level.

With my coaching and reviewing of individual games, I really try be poignant in saying 'you won't get away with that at AFL level and you will really need to improve on that' . That's been the beauty of playing in the VFL, we are playing against more AFL teams, the opposition has been quality and it's getting the boys ready to go up to that next level because it is a massive jump from VFL to AFL.

Making the step from VFL to AFL

You might see some guys dominate in the VFL for a long period of time but we need them to still improve because we want to close that gap between VFL and AFL as quick as you can and make sure they are ready.

A prime example is Joel Amartey who played good VFL footy for a period of time and now he has got his chance and hopefully he holds it. Dylan Stephens is another, he pushed his case for a fair bit of time, he just has to do the same things he was doing at VFL level and that little bit better to stay in the AFL side.

Ultimately I want all of them to get up there but there's only 22 spots. We try base our whole game around the AFL standards and what's required to play at that level because everyone wants to get up there but everyone is on a different journey and how long it takes people is completely different.

First year Swans

The jump from VFL to AFL is massive but then there’s the jump from Under 18s to VFL against bigger bodies. Most guys in the VFL have done a few pre-seasons and their bodies are matured. But you get the guys like Lachie Rankin, Corey Warner and Hugo Hall-Khan who are straight out of school and have been playing Under 18s, they haven't done the amount of weights that the other guys have done and a lot of their games are based around talent at Under 18 level, but talent only gets you so far. We have to shift it to ‘we want you to play the way we want you to’, to get up to that AFL level. 

The development in the young guys has been huge. Lachie Rankin is playing down back, he found his feet in the first couple of games and then we reviewed his game and when he got the fundamentals of his game right, he’s flourished. The same with Corey Warner, we have played him forward, played him on the wing, played him down back, it's all part of his development. The way he has adapted to each position and the confidence he gets by doing the team things and playing the way we want him to play is great and all his strengths just flourish from that.

It's pleasing watching the guys come out of school, come out of home, they are very raw when they come in but they are very coachable so once you put a bit of time into them and teach them the right way, they just flourish and that's what gets me out of bed everyday, they grow into men really quickly.

Rebounding after two Covid-affected seasons

It's a big relief that we have this season away, after going into the VFL for the first last year and the season being cut short. The last two years have been challenging, especially for the players that played just eight games last year and then they went into scrimmages which is training at a different level. Their development takes a bit of a hit from that, the players just want continuity and just to play games.

We have four byes in the VFL which is also hard because you want to get the players playing for AFL so we have tried to organise as many games through that period as we can just to get them going and make sure they are ready. They are all part of that goal to get the ultimate success in the AFL so we have to be ready when their chance comes.

Taking on second placed Southport in Round 17

We are looking forward to the challenge, they have a lot of ex-AFL guys and our boys have been in good form so we can't wait. They have only lost two games to Casey and Richmond so their form has been unbelievable. The way they hunt the ball and opposition, it's something we pride ourselves on so I think it's going to be a really contested game.

We will have to be on our game from first bounce because if you give quality opposition a look into the game, the game will be over. The boys are really excited, we are playing a really good quality opposition in Southport, they have a really good record at their ground, so it will be good to play under lights and will be a good experience for some of our younger guys.

The VFL team's Round 17 match against Southport will kick off at 7.05pm on Friday night. View the team here and you can watch it LIVE via AFL.com.au