Elsie Lange
Kyneton is determined to learn from two straight losses in the Bendigo Football League.
After winning six games in a row, the Tigers have dropped their last two games against Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye, the top two teams on the ladder.
The Tigers lost to the Bulldogs in round 11, 18.11 (119)-9.6 (60), and again came up short against Strathfieldsaye, 12.11 (83)-9.12 (66), in round 12.
President Hayden Evans said they had taken some learnings from the Gisborne game into the match with the Storm.
“We feel like we’ve learnt a lot from playing those really good sides, and a massive game this weekend against South Bendigo,” Evans said.
“Our coach is really happy our players have learnt a lot from playing against those really good sides, and we feel like we’re in the game for longer now, this second [time] around.
“Now we get to test ourselves against some good opposition over the next month. The goal is to cement our spot in the finals, and that’s what we’re chasing.”
On Saturday, the Tigers are set to face South Bendigo. South Bendigo beat them by three points earlier in the season, which Evans said had been the catalyst for their winning streak.
The Tigers are fourth on the ladder, with South Bendigo trailing just behind in fifth.
Evans said a win would be about “getting some confidence that the guys can match it with the really strong teams in the competition”.
“I think we’ve got that belief, it’s just about executing that on the field now,” he said.
Evans said looked forward to one of the team’s key players being back on the field on Saturday – last year’s best and fairest, Ned O’Sullivan.
“Ned’s had a really tough year,” he said.
“He had a concussion in round one, and then he had hamstring issues as well, so he hasn’t really been able to find his best form just due to injury this year.
“We’re hoping that he can get back – he’s a real key player for us, he’s the heart and soul.
“We’re really looking forward to Ned getting back out there.”
Evans also looked forward to welcoming back Cam Manuel in coming weeks following his suspension.
“We’re focusing on improving every week, across the whole club,” he said.
Meanwhile, Gisborne will face Maryborough at home on Saturday.
