Tara Murray
It’s been a positive start for the Point Cook Centrals in the Western Region Football League division 1, with the next step to get a win on the board.
The Sharks have had a tough start to the season, playing a much improved Point Cook, last season’s grand finalists Werribee Districts and last season’s minor premiers Caroline Springs.
Sharks coach Dean Chambers said they would take plenty of positives out of their start to life in the higher division.
“We’ve shown some really good signs,” he said.
“We’re competitive for patches in games. Against Point Cook we just feel short, bad kicking was the difference.
“Werribee Districts and Caroline Springs will be thereabouts at the end of the year.
“We would rather be thrown to the wolves early so we can get stuck in and move forward.”
Chambers said the key for the side was to be competitive for longer in games. He said while they could have got away with it last season, they couldn’t this time round.
“We have to be competitive for the whole four quarters,” he said. “They have greater depth than us, so we can’t afford to have those lapses.
“We’re really competitive compared to other teams that have come up and we haven’t been blown out of the water.
“We’ll build on those things in the back half of the year.”
On Saturday, the Sharks faced Werribee Districts.
The Tigers were able to continue their undefeated season so far, winning 15.12 (102)-6.8 (44).
The Tigers won all four quarters on the way to the win,
Chambers said the Tigers were better in some areas of the game.
“Their contested ball use was a lot cleaner than ours,” he said.
“They hurt us on the turnover which is what good sides do. We have to stop that quick transition the other way.”
Chambers said the first quarter was really positive and they were competitive in most areas.
They had just two less insides 50s, but Chambers said they are a key forward short to capitalise on them.
Daniel Rosenzweig was the only multiple goal kicker for the Sharks with two goals. Chambers said Brent Turner was good down back, while Kyle Galloway was hard at it all day in the ruck.
He said their midfield also broke even.
For the Tigers, Jack Fletcher and Lachlan Rainbow kicked four goals each. Sean Gregory was named their best.
The Sharks this week face Spotswood, which is also winless after the first three rounds.
Chambers said the next few weeks were really important for their season.
“We’re pretty keen to get the four points on the board, but they don’t just hand them out.
“We play Spotswood, Hoppers Crossing, Yarraville Seddon. We’re all in the bottom part of the ladder.
“A win would be good to have for all the hard work that they’ve put in.”
Meanwhile, Hoppers Crossing is on the board after beating Spotswood, 18.6 (114)-6.8 (44).
Point Cook suffered its first loss of the season, with Altona kicking a goal after the siren to win 9.6 (60)-8.7 (55).
