SWFL 2023: Harvey Bulls keen to build on 2022 success with Mark Pink remaining as league head coach

After just falling short of reaching the top of the SWFL mountain, Harvey Bulls league coach Mark Pink is ready to bounce back stronger than ever.

The Harvey Bulls Football Club took to social media last Thursday to announce Pink would be spending another season at the helm as pre-season training gets under way ahead of March 25, when the new SWFL season is set to bounce down.

With pre-season training in the early stages for the Bulls, Pink said the playing group was at a better starting point than last year.

“Depth-wise, we’re in a better position than last year but we needed to be,” he said.

“We were very skinny and light on at the start of the last pre-season and we were 3-6 at the halfway mark and then we finished 6-3, which is a lot better turnaround.

“We needed a bit more depth, which we recruited throughout the year, and most of those players have stayed, so I can’t complain about pre-season.

“We had a good hit-out the other day and training again tonight.”

Pink said this year would be a year of trying to consolidate the club and make the top five in both league and reserves.

“If I had to be honest, my ambition is not to win the flag this year. It’s to really consolidate,” he said.

“If we win enough games, it will take care of itself.”

In 2022, the Bulls made the competition sit up and pay attention after putting in the hard yards to finish in fifth place on the ladder and make the finals for the first time since 2017.

Excitement built up throughout the town as the Bulls charged through Busselton and Bunbury to make it to the preliminary final, where they fell short against South Bunbury.

Pink said he was indebted to the players for such a successful season last year.

“As a coach, you try to bring in some decent structures and you try to bring in some standards that you want to uphold,” he said.

“I was very proud of the playing group. They’re a ripping bunch of fellas and I just hope that they can go another 10 per cent level and have some success.

“We’re really proud of what we achieved last year as a club, going from winning seven games in four years, and then making preliminary finals in two grades.

“You’ve got to be happy with that.”

Peter Jones will remain as the women’s coach for the Bulls, Carlo “Bobby” Celisano will go another season as the reserves coach, while Matthew Wilson will coach the Bulls’ colts outfit.

The Bulls will start their SWFL season competing for the Harvey Fresh Cup against Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault at Harvey Oval on March 26.