Dane Hudson set to go with Prospect Knights in Steve Hudson Cup

Photo: Dane Hudson ready to kick off Prospect Knights' season [PlessPix]

I interviewed Prospect Knights coach Dane Hudson on the eve of the Steve Hudson Cup competition.

Prospect Knights have been drawn in Group B of the competition, together with Olympia Warriors, Launceston United and Ulverstone.

The Knights open their campaign on Sunday at 11am against Launceston United.

Walter Pless: How old are you, Dane?

Dane Hudson: I will be 49 years of age in April this year.

WP: Tell me about your coaching background.

DH: My coaching background covers all the age groups and genders. I have been coaching senior football for 6 years.

WP: What about your playing background?

DH: I have played since a child and started my senior career at 17 years of age after not playing after high school. I have stopped playing altogether now due to a broken feta suffered in a social game last year.

WP: What is the most difficult thing about coaching?

DH: The most difficult thing about coaching, I think, is believing with everything you have that you will win, but then you lose. No answers, no pats on the back, and just bewilderment.

WP: What’s the most rewarding thing about coaching?

DH: The most rewarding thing about coaching is seeing the group you are involved with develop, not only as players, but also as people and put into place strategies that you have introduced and coached knowing that if they are implemented correctly you will be successful.

WP: What is your coaching philosophy?

DH: My coaching philosophy is a coach should sell not yell.

WP: What are your aims with Prospect Knights this season?

DH: My aims this year with Knights are to continue our development as players and as a group and offer pathways to our younger players that they can place a value on as the future unfolds.

WP: How would you rate the Northern Premier League?

DH: I think the standard up here continues to improve as coaches continue to become better informed. Gone are the days, I think, where clubs employ good players to coach, only to then realise they are good players but not necessarily good coaches.

WP: Who will win the Northern Premier League title this season?

DH: I think, as previously, any top-four club can win it this year. Rangers are always strong, are well coached and have terrific self-belief. Devonport never say never, and, again, are well coached tactically and technically. Riverside play very attractive football and have both developing coaches and players. Knights are a very proud group, don’t take backward steps, and are again developing coaches and players and I really believe we will go very close this year.

WP: Do you have any new players?

DH: No new signings as yet, but we are hopeful some new arrivals in town will be attracted to us for the 2011 season.

WP: How does your squad rate compared to last season?

DH: I think our squad will be a bit stronger than last year. The World Cup didn’t do us any favours and if we can remain relatively injury free we should have our strongest team available for quite a few years for most of the season.

WP: What improvements would you like to see in Tasmanian football?

DH: I think if we all, inside our own clubs, continue to demand the very best of each other, the sport will continue to improve outside of any other influences. I have no magic pill to offer or any particular strategy to employ, but I know we are all passionate about our game and we will all strive to be successful in what we can control.