Re-signed Saker grateful to be part of Dragons’ positive culture

JAMES Saker has signed on for a further two seasons as Bell Park Dragons’ GFL senior coach.

The sixth-placed Dragons, with a 5-3 record, host top team St Joseph’s this Saturday, June 21, at 2.10pm.

“I’m really enjoying the role and it’s been two and a bit years and seeing the development of our players has been really exciting,” Saker said.

“I’m very optimistic about the remainder of this season and then beyond into the next couple, in terms of what I think we can we can achieve if we continue to improve and grow.”

Saker took the reins for the 2023 season and led the side to eighth place before a four-point elimination final loss to South Barwon last year.

“The club’s got a really great culture and it’s been in existence well and truly before I arrived, but I think just seeing our players buying into who we are and trying to take us to the next level; it’s really rewarding seeing that growth and it’s a wonderful club off-field as well.

“All our guys are wonderfully close and it’s a really positive environment for the young men to be in and I’m grateful to be a part of that.”

The Dragons played Joeys at the start of May, losing by 79 points, but have since won their past four games.

“These good sides, if you give them what they want, they’re pretty ruthless so it’s just trying to hang in there a bit longer than we have in the previous encounters against Joeys and [we’ll] just try and stand up to the pressure that they’ll bring,” Saker said.