Border Mail |
OPPORTUNISTIC. If he had to pick a single word, that’s the one Wangaratta Rovers coach Paul Maher would use to describe the Hawks’ first half of the season.
Rovers entered the turn 5-4 after a 39-point win over winless Wodonga on Saturday.
The Hawks had their good moments but also several poor ones in another unconvincing display.
Maher said he was “happy” with how the club had started the season but was confident there was improvement left in his group.
With James Mulligan, Hayden Lowe, Ben Kneebone and Ryan Cobain to return from injury in the second half of the year, Maher should be right.
“We’ve had some opportunities we’ve taken this year and others that we haven’t taken,” he said.
“We’re happy with 5-4.
“Yes, 6-3 would have been nicer, but Corowa was too good for us on the day.
“I think we are still thereabouts.
“We haven’t been a long way away in any game.”
Maher, in his first year as coach, said the inexperience in the Hawks’ team had perhaps flown under the radar.
“We’ve got a really young side this year,” he said.
“In every game this year we’ve probably had one quarter where there’s been a significant lapse.
“Whether that’s down to youth and experience, I’m not sure.
“We need to keep working hard on our consistency.”
Shane Gaston starred in the ruck against the Bulldogs, while Luke Peters returned to his familiar run-with role and blanketed former teammate turned Wodonga ace John Pratt.
The Bulldogs started slowly but made a charge in the second half.
They got within seven points early in the final quarter before the Rovers steadied with the last five goals.
However, in a big plus, ruckman Matt Seiter made an impressive return via the reserves.
He hasn’t played seniors this year.
