Wheeler is co-captain-coach with Danny Russell this year. This is his first senior coaching position. He conceded on Friday Sport Talk that the job has its pressures, but he added the players have been ‘awesome.’ Russell will retire after Old Bar’s final game in 2017.

Wheeler said the Pirates are paying the price for a slow start to the season, with the side having to rely on results going their way in the last round to make the cut. He pointed out the club fielded a new-look team this year and had a difficult preparation when rain ruled out the majority of their trial games – including the Group Three pre-season.

However, he believes said if Old Bar can sneak into the top five, they’ll give the other semi-finalists plenty to think about. Similarly, he thinks if Wingham beats them to the final position, they’ll also be a dark horse in the playoffs.

He doesn’t think a merger between Old Bar and Taree City is likely in the short-term, believing the Pirates are in good shape on and off the field.