New coach Matt Lantry has put the pressure fairly and squarely on his players to learn about the history and tradition of the Pickers so they understand the "responsibility that comes with wearing the jumper".
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ln a highly unusual move, Lantry this week sent a text to 40 long-term Pickers from the past - not just Old Boys, but officials as well from across different eras - asking if it would be all right for one of his players to chat with them to learn what it means to be a Picker.
By the weekend Lantry wanted all his players to submit a written account of their chat, and what they had learned.
"I haven't done this sort of thing before, I just thought it might help our guys understand what it means to the community ... what it takes to be a Picker," he explained.
I just thought it might help our guys understand what it means to the community ... what it takes to be a Picker
- Pickers coach Matt Lantry
"Not one of the 40 people said no."
The text said the players would ask four basic questions:
1: What are some of your greatest memories of your time at Maitland?
2: Looking back on the Maitland teams you played in, what were some of the keys that drove success?
3: How important was the town's support in your time, getting the community behind the club?
4: Who was the one player who you played with who epitomised what the Maitland club was about and why?
"We're speaking with a lot of the former players - Terry Pannowitz obviously, we'll have Alex Langbridge talk to him," Lantry said.
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"But also guys like Luke Gibson who captained the club in 2011 when they won their last premiership, Milton Burrows, Brian Burke, Robert Finch, former coach Trevor Ott ... and former long serving officials like Norma Lawler and John Newcombe. We'll get their thoughts too.
"Obviously we're also speaking with those players who were named in the Top 20 Pickers of all time."
It's all part of a three principle approach the club are taking into the season: respect the past, grow together, create the future.
"As I've said before, these are things we want to set our values on."
This weekend the club is off for a two-day camp on the Central Coast and Lantry was insisting all written reports be handed in before the team heads off.
"It will be fun, but there will be a lot of hard work too," Lantry said.
THE FULL TEXT
This is the text Matt Lantry sent to 40 former Pickers.
Matt Lantry here of the Maitland Pickers 1st grade team. The reason for my text is this year we're working hard on the below themes:
- Respect the past
- Grow together
- Create the future
The one thing I've asked the players to do is to make contact this week with an allocated former Maitland player and chat with them for 5 minutes to help us understand the Maitland teams of the past and some of their key attributs. We'd appreciate it if you would kindly take their call but also understand if you're not comfortable.
Below are the questions the player will ask and discuss with you:
1: What are some of your greatest memories of your time playing at Maitland?
2: Looking back on the Maitland teams you played in, what were some of the keys that drove success?
3: How important was the town's support in your time, getting the community behind the Maitland Pumpkin Pickers?
4: Who was the one player who you played with who epitomised what the Maitland club was about and why?
The club is shaping up well this year to be competitive in all grades. Be sure if you're at any of our games come and say hello. Our change rooms are always open before and after games, we look forward to seeing you there.
Thanks Matt
