The Airdrie Irish are committing to a 'one-and-oh' mentality as they prepare for the upcoming Alberta Football League (AFL) season.
While their 2023 season-opener is still a few months away, preseason training is already in full swing for the local competitive men's football team, which is holding weekly indoor practice sessions on Sundays at Genesis Place Recreation Centre.
Returning for his third season in the head-coaching role, former University of Calgary Dinos player Anton Bellot said everyone involved with the Irish organization is excited to be back in action after a lengthy off-season.
“It was a sense of joy to get the team back together,” said Bellot, a former linebacker for the Irish who took on the head-coaching role in 2021. “They were champing at the bit. They’re excited to go one-and-oh every day and be getting back to work.”
The Irish are coming off a record-setting 2022 campaign. After a few years of mediocre performances in 2018, 2019, and 2021, the Airdrie team's culture shifted significantly last year, as the Irish finished the summer as the AFL's runners-up. They produced a franchise-best 6-2-1 overall record, their only losses in 2022 coming against the title-winning Cold Lake Fighter Jets.
Bellot noted the bulk of last season's roster will be back wearing the green-and-white jerseys of the Irish this summer, which bodes well for the team's championship aspirations.
Among the players returning will be quarterback Josh Williams – who is also acting as the Irish's president this year – as well as Xavier Dalton, Ty Bessette, Jesiah Ingram, and Sam Low.
“It’s good to build some consistency with the program,” Bellot said. “One thing I’m really proud of for the organization is that our turnover is extremely low. This is my third year [as coach] and I’d say we probably returned 95 per cent of our roster, which is fantastic. They’ve been working hard in the off-season, they’ve been training, they’re still communicating in the group chats, and just getting ready to go.”
As great as last year was for the Irish, the season did end on a sour note as they were shut out handily, 55-0 in the AFL championship game.
But when asked if this season presents a shot at redemption, Bellot said that's not the attitude the coaching staff or the players are approaching the 2023 campaign.
“It was a great learning opportunity, for sure,” he said of last year's deep playoff run. “The message to my players – and it will continue to be a focus – is that what happened yesterday or last season doesn’t matter. [We'll] take the momentum we’ve built and focus on what we call a one-and-oh mentality. What that means is, focusing on today and being great right now.
“Check off the things that you need to accomplish to be one-and-oh. Did you hit the weight room? Did you get physio? Did you watch film? Did you attend practice? Did you reach out to coaches with a question? All those things are key components. I wouldn’t way we’re looking for redemption. I’d say we’re going back to work with the philosophy of going one-and-oh every day.”
Though the team will mostly feature the same players as last year, Bellot did cite a few new faces, such as W.H. Croxford Cavaliers alumnus Quintin Morrow, running-back Tyler Shaver, and wide receiver Javardo Sinea.
“We’ve already signed 10 new players and I think we have 10 or 15 more we’re actively recruiting,” Bellot said, adding the Irish's goal is to keep their new recruits as local as possible.
“Javardo Sinea, he was a wide-receiver and named AFL’s rookie of the year. Tyler Shaver, he was a very strong running back who came from our rivals down south. Quintin Morrow, he’s a local kid out of Croxford and is fantastic.”
One of the team's biggest holes to fill in 2023 is the loss of star running back Connor Lutz, who suffered a serious leg break last season. According to Bellot, Lutz – who was previously the Irish's president – still intends to be involved with the Irish in an off-field capacity, however.
“I think everyone knew he had a pretty gruesome leg injury and the recovery is going to be a lot longer than anticipated, so he’s [not going to play] this upcoming season,” Bellot said.
The Irish's next indoor practices will be held on March 11, 18, and 25 at 6 p.m. at the Genesis Place indoor soccer field. Although the roster is mostly finalized, Bellot said he still encourages local football players to come check out a session if they are interested in playing for the city's football team this summer.
The AFL's 2023 season schedule is already confirmed. The Irish's campaign will get underway June 3 when they travel north to Red Deer to face the Central Alberta Buccaneers.
Airdrie's home-opener will be the following week on June 10, when they host the Peace Country Cowboys at the Ed Eggerer Athletic Park (time of kick-off still to be determined).
For more info on the Irish or the AFL, visit albertafootballleague.com or follow the Irish's Facebook and Instagram pages.
