By Lance Jenkinson
Not in his wildest dreams did Glen Orden coach Phil Crea think his side would be 7-0 at the Queen’s Birthday break in the Western Region Football League division 3.
Two years ago, the Hawks’ senior section was as good as dead, sitting out the whole of the 2017 season.
The percentage of local football teams who abandon a season and return to the competition is small.
The Hawks earned the respect back of their WRFL opponents when they resuscitated their senior section last season.
Instead of just being happy to be back, Glen Orden has taken significant strides in 2019 to be a genuine premiership threat in the third tier.
Crea is wary of labelling the Hawks a flag chance so early, but the ladder does not lie.
“It’s a dream come true, I could never have expected us to be 7-0 when we started our pre-season,” he said.
“I didn’t know much about the new players we had at that stage, so it’s been magnificent.
“It’s been a really good start to the first seven games.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Tarneit vs Glen Orden
Glen Orden’s stirring 51-point win over one of the pre-season flag favourites Tarneit at Wootten Road Reserve on Saturday was not enough to sway Crea about his own side’s credentials.
The Hawks kept the home side to just four goals and played an impressive style of football to excite the fans.
They even managed to keep Tarneit scoreless in the last quarter.
“It’s still hard to gauge where we’re really at right now,” Crea said.
“It’s hard to go on this game because Tarneit had five senior players out and that probably made it a bit easier for us. All you can do is beat the side that is on the park.”
Crea is adamant that Glen Orden has a lot of room to grow between now and the end of the season.
The Hawks main issues to address are their discipline and adherence to team values.
“I know this is going to sound harsh, but I’m still not happy with the way we’re playing at the moment,” Crea said
“There’s a couple of issues we need to deal with.
“It’s a bit of discipline at the moment, we’re giving away some 50s and we’ve got to cut that out, and players are not giving to the first options.
“If we can work on those two issues before the end of the year, I think we can give it a really good shake.”
Kur Kur claimed best-afield honours for Glen Orden in the victory over Tarneit and the young wingman had the ball on a string.
“He brought his own Sherrin,” Crea said.
“He’ll have a big future this kid.”
Jhoshuar Dean was a powerhouse at centre half-forward for Glen Orden.
Dean kicked two goals, along with Dillon Hinge and Corey Mackey.
Defensively, Glen Orden was led by playing assistant coach Ash Peters, who provided directions for his fellow backmen, and Mark Yates, who did a lot of intercepting.
MORE WRFL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/sunshine-fades-in-a-fatal-second-half-performance/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/hoppers-crossings-win-keeps-leading-sides-in-sight/
