From recovery after games and during the week to match-day strategies, Maitland Magpies coach Mick Bolch has his team primed for Sunday's NPL grand final against Edgeworth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But his most important contribution has been building an unshakable belief among his players that they will win no matter what is thrown at them.
Six straight wins, 14 goals in six games including 10 to star Striker Braedyn Crowley, four clean sheets, just two goals conceded and wins over the four other 2020 finalists.
Not a bad effort from a team which at round nine had just lost star midfielder and former Newcastle Jet Nick Cowburn and suffered a humbling 2-1 loss at home to Charlestown Azzurri after leading 1-0 with 10 minutes to go.
To a man, the Magpies players will attest to Bolch's man management, attention to detail in preparation and trust in his squad as being at the forefront of their remarkable turn in form.
Enter Ryan Clarke, the Magpies talisman in their winning run and an astute signing by a coach who knew his side needed an injection of enthusiasm and lightning speed.
Clarke had been playing in the lower divisions with Hamilton Azzurri but always one to look after himself physically, Bolch banked on him giving the Magpies a valuable 20 or 30 minutes from the bench.
"Clarkey came in when we lost Nick Cowburn and we haven't looked back since," Bolch said
"He has been a massive part in our turn around.
"You can't coach pace and you can't replace it. He is definitely dangerous and getting through 90 minutes every week.
"He is an X-factor for us definitely."
The battle-hardened yet physically fresh Magpies are delivering at both ends of the field.
Matt Trott, in his last season, showed why he kept at A-League level with a magnificent save off his left foot denying the normally deadly James Virgili in a one-on-one contest.
The Magpies defensive general and skipper Carl Thornton was a rock in defence in his 100th game and up front Crowley and Clarke both found the back of the net.
But Sunday's win against Broadmeadow wasn't a cruise in the park and it showed the Magpies resilience and underlying belief in each other, which has grown over the final two months of their 2020 campaign.
"It was a pretty open game. They (Magic) were the best team in the first half. We struggled to contain them in the midfield playing a four-four-two. We changed that at half-time and went back to a four-three-three," Bolch said of the game.
We got a bit of traction in the game early in the second-half and I thought we matched up a lot better as a four-three-three.
"They had some chances, Trotty made a great save with his foot against Virgili, but I thought we finished the better.
"We missed the penalty and then to score the two goals in the 75th and 80th minutes. Another clean sheet, we've only conceded two goals in our last six games. It was a great opportunist goal from Clarkey to make it 1-0 and a good composed finish from Crowley to make it 2-0."
Defender Tommy Davies is back this week after missing the preliminary final with university commitments.
Whether he steps back straight into his normal defensive role is up for discussion after his replacement in the starting line-up, Joey O'Connor delivered his best performance in Magpies colours.
"Getting Tommy back which gives us a little more depth," Bolch said. "Joey O'Connor was outstanding, he was my man of the match.
"That's the good thing about this time of the year, these young guys step up and do a job for you.
"Against Azzurri it was him and Webby (Sam Webb) who did really well and Joey stepped up again. I thought he was outstanding against Magic.
"He was never fazed, even late in the game when we put him in the middle of the park he did well in there for us as well. He has an old head on a young pair of shoulders, he does very well."
Bolch said training this week would be about ensuring the players are fresh for battle on Sunday.
"I don't know how long it has been since a side has won it from fifth, but that's three sudden-death semis in a row and hopefully we've got one more left in us.
"Momentum is a big thing and winning becomes a habit, all those cliches have an element of truth.
"The boys are doing all the little things right with their recovery. Momentum is a big thing. Edgey has only played one game in the last three or four weeks and we're coming off six straight must-win games.
"It will be a great game."
Sunday's grand final between Maitland and Edgeworth is at Newcastle No.2 Sportsground. Kick off is at 3pm.
