Tara Murray
The Sunbury Kangaroos are growing in confidence in the Essendon District Football League women’s division 2 competition.
The Kangaroos started the season in division 1, but dropped to division 2 after some early big losses.
Coach Joseph Antonetti said while it had been a tough start with a number of player departures, things were now starting to build.
The group has won three games since dropping divisions.
“The girls have been able to recruit some more fresh faces,” he said. “There’s now a different attitude and its reinvigorated the group.”
Antonetti said the dropping off a division had helped the side find its feet. He said they were still learning to play together and it was going to take some time.
“It has definitely helped,” he said. “The competition standard is pretty much where we should at the moment.
“We can only build from there. It’s been really great for the confidence and the self-belief.”
Antonetti said the biggest positive for him as a coach was the way that the group got around each other.
“The loyalty to each other has been really good,” he said.
“They have different lives and livelihoods and they put it all behind them and come to footy.
“It’s an escape and they back each other and it’s awesome to see as a coach and official.”
The Kangaroos have three wins for the season and could easily have a couple more on the board.
The side’s small finals hopes came to an end on Saturday with a heartbreaking loss against Aberfeldie 2.
Abers led at the first two breaks, before the Kangaroos levelled the scores heading into the final quarter.
Both teams were able to score a goal in the final quarter, but Abers were able to have a couple more scoring shots which was enough for a 4.7 (31)-4.3 (27) win.
Georgia Marinier kicked three goals for the Kangaroos. Holli Cecchini and Amelia Alexander were named their best.
Antonetti said no matter where they end up from here, the season would be a success. He said to even have been speaking about playing finals had been exciting for the group and the direction the group is going.
“Finals are a possibility and something to aim for,” he said. “Whether it happens or not it has still been a positive end to the season.
“We rolled with the punches and look at the results now.”
While the season is nearly over for the Kangaroos, they’re still looking for more players to join the side and build towards next season.
Antonetti said it would be good to have another handful of players to allow them to give their players some more rest and give the side a bit more depth.
Meanwhile, both Gisborne and the Sunbury Lions both had byes in division 1.
