By: Tash Gunawardana
LILYDALE defeated fifth-placed Park Orchards by 33 points last weekend, off the back off a huge third quarter piling on seven goals to one.
Senior coach Ben Neagle spoke to EFL Sunday after his side’s win, stating the third-quarter-blitz was a credit to his side’s contested ball work in heavy conditions.
“(The half-time address was) nothing I hadn’t said before the start of the game or anything like that- there was no genius tactics that’s for sure,” Neagle said.
“It was just about hard work and outnumbering to the contest and simple weather footy really.
“There was a fair breeze going forward to one end and we kicked with that breeze in the third quarter and it just sort of clicked for us.
“We were able to use the ball really well going inside forward 50 and we were really clean around the contests compared to Park Orchards.”
In a much-needed win, Lilydale arrested a run of five consecutive losses.
With the Falcons’ form indifferent over the last month or so with goals hard to come by, this was not the case over the weekend as they managed 12 goals in wet weather conditions – the highest score across all Division 1 sides for the round.
“I think our forward line was functioning well due to the fact we created a bit of space for each other,” Neagle said.
“Getting Lachie Koger back into the team too certainly makes a difference and he certainly straightened us up a little bit, which helped the other forwards to free them up a little bit more too.
“Brad Lowe had a good day yesterday and young Sammy Baker too when he was up forward had a good day.”
Baker on the go for the Falcons.
Ashraf Davies has been a vital inclusion since returning to the club mid-season and was named in the best players with a goal to his name.
“He’s fitted his way back beautifully, (ex) captain of the club, premiership player in 2011 with the club too so he has just got a wealth of experience for this young group,” Neagle said.
“The guys learn off him really well and he has just been a terrific inclusion and we are just rapt to get him back.”
According to Neagle, the five-game losing streak was attributed to his side’s inconsistency.
“There were certainly signs that we weren’t at our best, probably leads into the four or five games that we lost.
“We weren’t consistent at all in the game and sides were starting to get on a bit of a roll, hunting us as well and we just started to find over the last three weeks our training has really lifted.
“The guys are starting to really challenge each other and starting to get the best out of each other.
“You will find last week even though it was a 40 point odd lost to East Doncaster we felt there was some good buy ins and we were starting to get a bit of hunger back in the contest, which was nice.
“Kicking straight obviously helps.”
Neagle says his side’s past fortnight has seen an improvement in structure.
“I think the way we have sort of been structuring up the last couple of weeks will have us in good stead for the next four or five weeks,” Neagle said.
“Hopefully we’re on the right track, (but) we have a long way to go and there’s some good teams (we will) come up against and we know in Division 1 – it is such an even competition.
“If you’re five per cent off, you will probably lose.”
Lilydale hosts East Ringwood at the Lilydale Sports Oval this Saturday.