By: Tash Gunawardana
WANTIRNA SOUTH has won its last two matches to save itself from Division 1 relegation.
In recent weeks, the Devils have knocked off in-form sides East Ringwood and Park Orchards, after five consecutive losses.
The club now sits ninth on the ladder, six points clear of local rival, Knox, who sits 10th.
Senior coach Steve Cochrane spoke to EFL Sunday after his side’s turn-around in form.
“I challenged the boys, in particular around how we want to play and be known for,” Cochrane said.
“A few little home truths, it was all good and well and we sort of got on with it next week.”
Park Orchards was expected to defeat Wantirna South based on its run and quick ball-movement, but the Devils flexed in the third, knocking Park Orchards out of the top five.
“They are very slick side, they move the ball quite quick,” Cochrane said.
“I felt the advantage for us was in contest, if we actually win the stoppages and be stronger for longer around the contests, I thought we could actually slow that movement down get it going our way and that’s pretty much what happened for four quarters.
“I thought we were a lot stronger in the contest than they were.”
The Devils were facing relegation a fortnight ago, but the turning point came at half-time at East Ringwood in Round 16.
“A spray here and there always helps the coach and sometimes helps the players, as it lets a bit of frustration out, we weren’t executing and our concentration over four quarters was always lacking and always been a bit of a problem for us this year,” Cochrane said.
“We’ve been in a lot of games, but we have always had a quarter where we have lapsed.
“I thought we were in a great position at East Ringwood and gave up a solid lead and I had to let the boys know that it was unacceptable, and you can’t be uncompetitive (sic) for periods of time in a quarter or in a game.
“The boys responded really well, and we have been able to grow from that.
“I moved the side around a bit around too after the Mooroolbark game, felt we weren’t scoring enough, (and) lost our way in our ball movement.
“We had a big focus at training around ball movement and getting a lot more run off our half-back line.
“Scott Gerloff, Taylor Leggate and David Lang, we encouraged these guys to really run and take the game on and in doing so we have started to get the ball forward a lot quicker and smarter and giving ourselves an opportunity to score.
“11 goals was just about our highest score for the year.”
Club captain Luke Williams has had an immediate impact since returning from injury, with the side back in form.
“As everyone knows in the EFL, he (Williams) is a tremendous person and a great character and he’s a fantastic player and in conditions like yesterday, his big body and work ethic around stoppages was huge and he was massive for us yesterday from go to whoa,” Cochrane said.
“Very hard guy to match up on and he had a tremendous game (last Saturday).”
EFL SUNDAY PODCAST | Listen to Wantirna South coach Steve Cochrane’s full interview here.
