Border Mail | TALLANGATTA will be looking to build on its best start to a home and away series since its 2009 premiership season when it takes on Dederang-Mount Beauty at Mount Beauty on Saturday.
But while the Hoppers have been impressive in bringing down Yackandandah, Wahgunyah and Rutherglen in the opening three rounds, coach Zac Fulford yesterday warned the real challenges would come in the next six weeks.
“I think we have improved a bit on last year, but I think most teams have improved,” Fulford said yesterday.
“Over the next six weeks we will know how far we have come.
“It’s a very even competition with Thurgoona and Kiewa-(Sandy Creek) the measuring sticks at the minute.
“We know we will have to play really well against Dederang and then we have Beechworth, who are playing good football.
“After that we start playing the top five sides from 2014.
“You have to keep things in perspective and nobody can afford to get ahead of themselves in this league.”
After collecting the wooden spoon last season with four wins, it was clear to the Tallangatta hierarchy it needed to move on the recruiting front to help the likes of Rhett Thomson, Tom Mason, Darcy Carroll, Joel O’Reilly and Luke Fraser.
Enter Ben Heinrich, Tim Brook, Tom Russell, Brent Hibberson and James Breen.
“We identified last year that we needed a few more mature and experienced bodies,” Fulford said.
“They have all been solid and helped a couple of our younger guys as well in terms of their field position on Saturdays.
“They have added a lot to our playing list.
“There was a core that played for a year or year and a half before I came to the club who have 60 or so games now who are also coming along well.”
Although Dederang-Mount Beauty started the home and away season with an embarrassing 198-point loss to Thurgoona, the Bombers have hit back hard in narrow losses to Rutherglen and Chiltern.
Fulford said that form hadn’t gone unnoticed.
“We are not underestimating Dederang,” he said.
“Knowing Marc (Almond) he will make sure it’s a big game for them.
“They have quality like (Darren) Bradshaw, Matt Lee and (Andrew) Cardwell and a really good core of players.
“We understand it’s going to be tough.”
