By Mitch Turner
After years in the wilderness, Chirnside Park has found their footing once again in season 2021.
A nail-biting four-point win over Silvan on Saturday represents the Panthers third win in their first five matches of the Division Four campaign, not a world-beating mark by any stretch, but for this club wins are cherished more than most.
2018 and 2019 were far from the Panthers’ finest seasons over the clubs almost 30 year history fielding a senior side, as they went without a single win in 36 straight home-and-away matches.
The clubs last win heading into this season took place all the way back in August of 2017 when they defeated now Division Two side The Basin in the final round of the then Division Three home and away season.
Clearly, it’s been a long time between ‘top four’ drinks for David Newlands’ men, and he acknowledged that the club’s newfound success was doing wonders in the change-rooms.
“Winning helps a lot, and it just creates an atmosphere and a happy environment,”
“The boys were never not enjoying playing footy, but once you start winning, on and off field it just makes a massive difference”, he said following the clubs win over the Cats, their first win of real substance in 2021.
The side went through a very up-and-down start to the year, with a 115-point drubbing at the hands of Coldstream followed up by a massive win over Croydon North MLOC, before they again were on the wrong side of a big margin, going down to Forest Hill by 11 goals.
With two wins on the trot, following their victory over Kilsyth in Round Four, Newlands believes his squad is “starting to find (their) momentum” and “executing the game plan” in recent weeks.
“Hopefully they can keep carrying that forward”, he said.
Undoubtedly, one of the most important elements to the sides success this year has been the play of Ben Slattery, who has been named best on ground in three out of his five matches, and has never been out of the teams top five most important players.
“He’s a class player”, Newlandw said of the former Croydon and Mooroolbark man, “he’s fit and raring to go every week and he’s enjoying his footy.”
Slattery’s work has been ably complimented up forward by veteran power forward Daniel Beddome, who, after going goalless in Round One and being unavailable in Round Two, has kicked 11 goals in his past three matches, including turning in a five-goal haul against Kilsyth two weeks ago.
In spite of the strong start to the season, and the fact that the Panthers haven’t played finals footy since they won the premiership over a decade ago, Newlands was very keen to keep a lid on any discussions about where the side might end up at the end of the season.
“We just want to concentrate on the team that’s in front of us, if we can just tick them off one by one that’s going to be a success for us”, he said.
“I’m just looking for growth, that’s more important to me than finishing in a certain position”.
