“As a club this was a great building block for us but we want to be even bigger and better next year so obviously we’ve got some decisions to be made in the next few weeks and we’ll see what happens,” Heal said this week.

The South Dragons are now in the midst of a full season review and Heal is intent on building a team that will achieve even greater success.

“You always want more as a player and as a coach, you think ‘yeah we can win the finals and we can do this and we can do that,’ but reflecting on the year I think the guys have shown so much character and heart to have made the playoffs in the first year ever,” he said.

One player certain to be part of the Dragons’ future is young Rookie of the Year, Joe Ingles.

Heal, who claimed national rookie honours back in 1988, said Ingles was the most exciting athlete in years.

“I think when you’ve got someone who wants to learn and who does listen and is excited about getting to that next level, it helps the whole group,” he said.

“The plan for Joe is to just keep on improving. There’s a process that he’ll have to go through to take his game to the next level and with what he’s been able to achieve this year he should be really proud.

“He’s had an exceptional year coming into the league so it’s an exciting time for the Dragons knowing we’ve got someone like Joe here.”

But Heal warned the rookie would be under enormous pressure in his second season of professional ball.

“The second year in the league is always the most difficult because everyone knows Joe now,” Heal said.

“It’s going to be tough for him and he’s going to have to come back bigger and better next year and we’re going to work on that and I think he’s got the right attitude to take his game to the next level.

“There’s been a lot of pressure on Joe about the NBA and everything else and he knows and we know at the club that there’s a long, long way to go for him to be able to get to that level, but it’s all about the work and when you’ve got the potential it’s exciting to be in that situation.”

Heal and Ingles will soon embark on a week-long trip to the USA to join forces with the San Antonio Spurs.

While Heal will use the trip to heighten his coaching expertise, Ingles will learn just what it takes to make the NBA.

“We’ll be going to the States in the off-season and doing a few workouts and things like that and seeing what Joe has to do to become an NBA-type player,” Heal said.

“It’s a really exciting time and I can’t wait to be part of the next couple of years of his career.”