Geelong Advertiser | ST JOSEPH’S kept its unbeaten record intact with a gritty 15-point win away from home against a desperate Bell Park.
Joeys coach Heath Jamieson was impressed with his side’s composure in the clutch moments to secure the 15.9 (99) to 13.6 (84) result.
While their 7-0 record has the Joeys’ sitting top of the table, Jamieson said the next two weeks were crucial with huge matches against St Albans and Leopold.
“We haven’t had that hard a physical game for a few weeks and we knew Bell Park were going to bring it,” Jamieson said
“To get a test today was good for the group.
“I think our form’s really good, one thing we’ve got this year, which we probably haven’t in the past, is real depth.
“Our depth’s really good, our reserves have only lost one game.
“Our next two weeks we’ve got two more tests.
“We’ve got St Albans next week and their form’s been super, then Leopold after that who we rate really highly.
“We take every side on their form this year, not on their form from yesteryear and we reckon they’ll (St Albans) be tough opposition next week.”
St Joseph’s remains a game clear on top of the GFL ladder and Jamieson appreciates the importance of these early-season wins.
The brilliant start to the year will allow the club to get “funky” with the way it approaches the latter stages of the home-and-away season and grant it great luxury with player management.
“Our season’s panning out really well, the reality is it’s a very long year and I definitely understand that,” he said.
“But what early wins allow you to do is get a bit funky later in the year with players, training loads and all that sort of stuff.
“So (it’s) super important that we do keep winning and then at the back end (of the year) we get to manage our list.”
Bell Park made the early running on Saturday with the first two goals of the match before St Joseph’s wrestled control of the match but was inaccurate in front of goal, trailing at quarter-time 3.1-2.4.
