By Mitch Turner
Warrandyte are sitting pretty in second place on the division three ladder after a strong showing against the Whitehorse Pioneers culminated in a resounding 40-point victory.
A 2-0 start is exactly what this side was looking for after the heartbreak of 2019, where they were knocked out in the elimination final against the Waverley Blues by just seven points in extra time, after having led by 25 points heading into the final term.
An extra week off as a result of a Week one bye certainly did nothing to hamper Warrandyte’s start to the season, as they came away 33-point victors against fellow premiership contender Ferntree Gully in their first go-around of the season.
They then followed that performance with another ripper against the Pioneers at home, clinical from start to finish, as a six goal to nil first quarter put the game almost beyond doubt very early in the piece.
New boom recruit Ryan Phillips, a key forward with notoriously large hands, was instrumental in the win, kicking a remarkable seven goals on his way to be being named his sides best on ground.
Photo – Trewella Sports Photography
Phillips said it was just a case of “getting to the right spots”.
“Trying to get your timing back is the big thing”, he added, when asked about the return to football.
Phillips noted his teammates’ “enthusiasm has been great (because) everyone was pretty keen to get stuck into it” after such a long time away from the game.
The big forward has had an interesting football journey himself.
He played all of his junior footy, as well as three years of senior footy, with Premier Division powerhouse Vermont.
He had a number of strong showings for the Eagles, including a number of starring performances from Under 17s up to the Eagles Reserves. However, he never quite managed to translate this success into big performances for the main side, despite a handful of apperances.
Phillips admitted he “was probably on the outer a little bit” at the Eagles due to the squad’s forward depth – “had a few big forwards come into the team”. “
Unperturbed by his inability to break into the Eagles’ main side, Phillips had a brief stint in Upper Ferntree Gully during 2019 before making his way to the Bloods for the 2021 season.
For Ryan, the move was ultimately about “getting the enjoyment back into footy”.
“Hopefully I can stay on the park… and contribute to winning”, he said following his man of the match outing.
As for what this season holds for his side, Phillips said the Bloods “want to win a premiership”.
“That’s what we’re striving for, that’s been our goal all preseason”.
He alluded to the disappointment of 2019, and said he hopes to be the extra push the side needs to get over the hump this season.
The Warrandyte faithful will certainly be hoping he continues to produce match-winning performances like the one he had last weekend.