Vineyard
Team Captain
Kangaroos jump beyond everyone's expectations
9/09/2008 1:31:00 AM
REGARDLESS of what happens from here, East Point has already achieved more in 2008 than it did last season and much more than many expected.
The Kangaroos who, at the start of the season, were forced to improvise after being stripped of four high-quality midfielders, will finish at worst third this year and start a clear favourite to make their second Ballarat Football League grand final in three years when they take on Ballarat next Saturday at Eastern Oval.
At the start of the season, an East Point board member admitted this season was going to be a "re-building year" for the club.
Remarkably, the Roos have managed to rebuild a team with impressive newcomers like Sam Kitchin, Jayden Alexander, Josh Discher and others, while still challenging for the premiership.
While there is plenty of optimism for the future at Eastern Oval, it was the veterans who were the difference last Saturday.
Dan Jordan was simply too strong at full-forward for at least two opponents, Simon Geljon proved a strong marking target at centre half-forward, and Glen and Mark Phelps gave the Lakers little respite in the air.
Despite the defeat, Lake Wendouree's season can only be described as a triumph for coach Matt Battistello.
The Lakers were perhaps two players short of being a preliminary finalist and never gave up against a team that remains a genuine chance of a premiership.
"It's disappointing but you can't lose focus on where you come from," Battistello said. "If at the start of the year we were told we'd be playing East Point in a second final, I think we might have taken that.
"We'll lose a few players over the summer as every club does, but hopefully not too many. We hope the core group can stay together, plus top up a bit, because I think we have enough talent. We had four or five guys who missed out today who will have to improve if we are to go to the next step."
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9/09/2008 1:31:00 AM
REGARDLESS of what happens from here, East Point has already achieved more in 2008 than it did last season and much more than many expected.
The Kangaroos who, at the start of the season, were forced to improvise after being stripped of four high-quality midfielders, will finish at worst third this year and start a clear favourite to make their second Ballarat Football League grand final in three years when they take on Ballarat next Saturday at Eastern Oval.
At the start of the season, an East Point board member admitted this season was going to be a "re-building year" for the club.
Remarkably, the Roos have managed to rebuild a team with impressive newcomers like Sam Kitchin, Jayden Alexander, Josh Discher and others, while still challenging for the premiership.
While there is plenty of optimism for the future at Eastern Oval, it was the veterans who were the difference last Saturday.
Dan Jordan was simply too strong at full-forward for at least two opponents, Simon Geljon proved a strong marking target at centre half-forward, and Glen and Mark Phelps gave the Lakers little respite in the air.
Despite the defeat, Lake Wendouree's season can only be described as a triumph for coach Matt Battistello.
The Lakers were perhaps two players short of being a preliminary finalist and never gave up against a team that remains a genuine chance of a premiership.
"It's disappointing but you can't lose focus on where you come from," Battistello said. "If at the start of the year we were told we'd be playing East Point in a second final, I think we might have taken that.
"We'll lose a few players over the summer as every club does, but hopefully not too many. We hope the core group can stay together, plus top up a bit, because I think we have enough talent. We had four or five guys who missed out today who will have to improve if we are to go to the next step."
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