By Josh Ward
It’s been a long wait for Scoresby to bounce back following relegation in 2019, but despite a rather inconsistent start to the 2021 season the Magpies look to be in decent shape and are hoping to continue their solid form against second placed Ferntree Gully (at time of writing).
2019 wasn’t the greatest year for the Magpies following consecutive finals appearances in 2017 and 2018, relegated to the now fourth tier of the Eastern Football Netball League and only winning three games that year.
But following wins in three of their last four games following a draw and a 139 point loss to start the season, the Magpies sit only two points away from both Waverley Blues and Donvale, who sit third and fourth on the Division Three ladder.
Coach Kristian Bardsley recently said to EFNL.org.au that their inconsistency has been due to the fact they’ve had to use a high percentage of their playing list.
“We’ve had a heap of injuries; our team hasn’t been consistent in terms of our playing personnel. We’ve played 36 players in the senior’s this year,”
“Overall, we’re not dissatisfied. We’re going okay, but we still think there’s a lot more growth and improvement between now and the end of the year.”
He also stated that another reason for their inconsistency has been due to their young core still developing.
“They’re going well, but with kids you’re going to get that inconsistency. We’re still working through that and hopefully we’ll get more consistent as the season goes on.”
Their young core has improved gradually, with forward Tom Sonsie leading their goalscoring, and players like Cooper Frith, Josh Du Vallon, Sonsie and Kobie Stock playing every game this year.
Bardsley added that once they got relegated that it was their plan to start playing these young kids, in order to set the club up for strong and sustainable future.
“That was part of the plan once we came down was to start developing some of these kids so that they’ll be around Scoresby for the next 12-13 years.”
The next month though could show how much their young core has developed, facing three top four teams in their next four games, including second placed Ferntree Gully this weekend.
However, Bardsley is only focused on the week-by-week, believing that every team in Division Three will be a tough challenge.
“In these competitions if you don’t come ready to play, it doesn’t matter who you play against, you’re a chance to lose,”
“We go into every game thinking we can win, and we only concentrate on who we’ve got this week and what we need to do this week to try and get the four points.”
Bardsley is also happy back coaching the team he loves, stating that he has always enjoyed coaching as well.
“I helped out Upper Ferntree Gully for a year in 2019 and got the urge to coach again,”
“I’m a Scoresby person, I love the club, and if there was anything I could do to help them out I’ll always do that.”