By Tricia Mifsud
IT was a slow start to the season for Whittlesea on Saturday as they went down to Greensborough by 53 points at Whittlesea Showgrounds.
Club president Cam Powell said the game was a learning experience for the side and an indicator on where improvement needs to be in 2021.
The Eagles are now playing in divison one of the Northern Football Netball League after winning the division two premiership in 2019.
“Our boys learnt a lot, it was a big learning curve. If anything, their intensity needs to be a lot greater,” he said.
“There were definitely encouraging sings in patches, when they realised they playing Greensborough who have been the bench mark of the league for the last three or four years now.”
Among Whittlesea’s best was Riley Carter, whose efforts across the entire match didn’t go unnoticed.
“Riley’s run and carry was very good. Blake Watson was also another one of the boys who stood out,” Powell said.
Watson was Whittlesea’s leading goal-scorer for the afternoon, bagging three for the match. The Eagles had a further six individual goal-scorers.
Powell has no doubt the Eagles will be able to bounce back this week as they come up against Heidelberg Tigers who handed Hurstbridge an 87-point loss in round one.
Although a challenge, Powell believes that some hunger from the side to secure a win will help get them over the line.
“They should be able to bounce back. They’ll be a lot more competitive and be up and about now that they’ve had a run around over the weekend. They know the intensity that’s required of them to compete,” he said.
Like all Victorian clubs returning back to league footy for the first time in 18 months, Powell said the excitement around the club on Saturday was at its peak.
“It was absolutely fantastic; the vibe around the place was unreal,” he said.
“We have new members and new sponsors, even some joining as of yesterday (April 11).”
Another exciting moment for the club was its inaugural senior women’s football side taking its first steps out on the oval as a team in the Northern Football Netball League.
The women’s senior side also came up against Greensborough, falling short by nine points in a wet and muddy game of football.
Powell said despite conditions, it was great to witness a part of history for the club and he looked forward to what the women would achieve for Whittlesea.
“First game history was created by the girls over the weekend. They played Greensborough who are the reigning premiers,” he said.
“Ours girls were competitive, and went out there playing good football.”
