Border Mail |
A PRE-GAME lunch at the Birallee Tavern on Saturday has helped steer Wodonga Raiders to what could be a season-defining win over Wodonga.
In a left-field approach, all 21 of the Raiders’ senior players and the coaching staff sat down for a meal to chat just before the Wodonga derby — and it paid dividends.
The Raiders were always in control. They led at every change and held hold off their arch-rival by 13 points.
The result threw another spanner in the wooden spoon race.
Victorious coach Ken Stevenson explained what the unusual pre-game routine was about.
“We just sat down and went over some footage to talk about how we wanted to go about it,” Stevenson said.
“I really thought we turned a corner in the second-half against Yarra.
“They pummelled us early on and we were really devastated about it.
“But we’ve been really good since then — we’ve been really good at times, just inconsistent.
“We took a lot out of this win.”
Stevenson was full of praise for the Raiders’ next generation, in particular the league’s reigning thirds best and fairest winner Ben Murphy.
And rightly so. The talented youngster was the Raiders’ best in the win with his play across half-back.
“I don’t know what he’s got to do but he has to get a Rising Star nomination,” Stevenson said.
“He’s been in our best six times and was clearly our best on Saturday. He must get a nomination.”
Stevenson also noted the recent efforts of Jack Melrose, Brock Knights and Danyl Woods.
“All these young guys are really leading the way,” he said.
“They’re playing great footy and leading the whole club.
“We think we’re set up to be a really good footy side in the future.”
Dean Limbach dominated up forward for the Raiders, again proving his worth when his teammates got the ball to him on a regular basis.
He kicked seven goals.
“He’s a gun,” Stevenson said.
“All three of the Melbourne guys have been awesome for us.”
