FOOTBALL
NORTH GIPPSLAND FNL
ONE side that had no trouble finding its feet from the North Gippsland Football Netball League season outset was Traralgon Tyers United, which kickstarted a new era under coach Jay Neagle with an ominous 108-point victory in round one.
While the opposition is standing to attention at the Bombers’ arrival, the coach maintains the side’s performance is a “week-by-week prospect”.
Saturday will provide Neagle with his first big test and an indication as to just how much his side has improved in the off season, when the Bombers play host to premiership dark horse Yarram.
Reflective of his young charges’ first round efforts, Neagle knows his side will need to continue to evolve and improve to match it with the competition’s frontrunners.
“I was really happy following Saturday’s game, it was a pretty good team performance with our first quarter solid,” Neagle said.
“I wasn’t as pleased with our second and third quarter efforts – while we did manage to hold them off we weren’t as good – however I was happy with how the side finished off the match with a strong last quarter which saw us kick eight goals.”
At the helm of a young list, Neagle said his side was eager to learn and had adapted well to his coaching style.
“We’re a young team, the guys are eager to learn and have come on board with some of the new things that I have put in place. I have quite a bit of experience and have put in place some things that the guys haven’t heard of before,” he said.
“We have also focused on working on our discipline, getting the guys to concentrate on when it is time to switch on and work. There is talent in the team, and I have been consciously working on gaining the confidence back.”
A large crowd was on hand to watch Yarram claim the honours in the Good Friday contest against Woodside a fortnight ago, with their performance demonstrating why they will be hard to contain.
With a week’s break under their belt, Demons coach Anthony Pavey will be looking for the same tenacity and forward line pressure which will be required to overcome a tough Bomber outfit.
COWWARR will play host to a Churchill side rueing a final quarter fade-out which cost it bragging rights in the grand final rematch.
In contrast the Saints started their season off on a winning note, going against the tide of past seasons.
Lacking consistency at times in years gone by the Saints were ruthless in their four quarter effort and will need to deliver another consistent performance to overcome a tough Cougar outfit which rarely drops two on the run.
THIS week Glengarry’s new look line-up faces last season’s biggest improvers, Sale City.
Citing a need to improve basic skills, Glengarry coach Robbie Cahill will be focusing on the positives which came from his side’s final quarter effort against Cowwarr last round.
“We played very scrappy footy, we had a lot of turnovers and need to improve on our basic skills,” Cahill said.
“The last quarter is what we will be focusing on this week, the way that we move the ball and the pressure that we put on the opposition through scoreboard pressure and contested ball.
“Sale City has always been a consistent team that are well-drilled, we can’t wait for the challenge and to see how the guys improve, taking in last week’s ups and downs.”
OUTPLAYED in most areas of the game in round one, Gormandale’s coaching panel will go back to the drawing board ahead of a clash with Heyfield.
Left reeling after a blistering performance by old foes TTU, Tigers coach Luke Henderson will be seeking a lift in intensity.
There will be little let up for the Tigers with this week’s opponent’s damaging midfield and potent forward line set to cause more headaches.
WOODSIDE failed to kick start Daniel Risol’s coaching career with a first up victory, but the man at the helm is upbeat about his side’s first contest at home and is drawing on lessons learnt.
“Round one didn’t go as well as we had hoped, the bigger, more mature blokes at Yarram outplayed us, but we took a few positives from the contest,” Risol said.
On their home turf the Wildcats are a different proposition, demonstrating in past seasons that it is a tough prospect for visiting sides to leave with the four points.
This week’s opponent, Rosedale, failed to fire following a slow opening half and will be out to atone for last week ahead of a tough Anzac day clash against TTU.
Risol conceded there was no letting up for the Wildcats.
“Rosedale will be another tough match, they were a top side last year and have recruited well. We are looking forward to the challenge they pose and to our first home game,” he said.
Renowned for their ruthless clashes, both sides will be aware they can ill afford to allow the opposition a sniff or the game may be over by half-time.
