Tara Murray
Werribee is getting a good idea where it sits early in the Hockey Victoria Vic league 1 competition.
The Tigers have faced several of the top teams in the first three rounds and have one win and two losses to show for it.
Coach Jayden Street said playing the top sides was a good way to start the season.
“With the draw it seems like we have drawn a lot of the top teams,” he said.
“I don’t see it as a bad thing to see the benchmarks early and see where we sit for the rest of the season and see what we have to do.’”
Street said across their three women’s teams they were looking to build as the season progresses.
He said it was a bit different for the group having a new coach this season.
“It’s been pretty good, we’re slowly building into the season,” he said. “Our thirds team is undefeated and our second team has had a bit of a harder challenge with the opposition.
“Our top team beat the team that came down last season and we had a close loss to the team that won the flag. Mornington got the better of us.”
While new to the women’s role, Street has been a familiar face around Werribee hockey having coached the men’s team.
He said he was excited for a new challenge.
“I’m a new coach and I’m assessing where all the girls are at,” he said.
“I’ve coached the men the last four years and I stepped down to give the men a fresh look and a fresh set of eyes.
“The women’s coach of the last four years was ready to just play and not coach, so the opportunity came to step in and give the girls a bit of a boost.
“I’ll pass on a few things from the men’s side and see if it translates to the women’s side.”
Street had previously coached a mixed junior side and was caretaker of the women’s side for half a season 10 years ago, so this is a new challenge for him.
He said they had an experienced side with a couple of new additions this season.
In a promising sign a couple of younger players have made their debuts this season.
Street said they were hoping to play finals this year.
“We’re aiming for finals across the board ideally,” he said.
“We’ve come into the league the last few years trying to survive in the league. I want to put a level of expectation on the girls to be aiming higher than that.”
The Tigers men’s side had a 32 loss to the Melbourne Sikhs United on Saturday in their match.
They sit seventh on the ladder with one win.
