By: Joseph Arthur
MITCHAM appears to be turning over a new leaf this season, already matching 2018’s win total after just three rounds.
The League’s restructuring is working in the club’s favour to this point, as it currently boasts an undefeated record and is showing significant signs of growth.
Despite being a young team, the Tigers have displayed huge levels of composure in its three wins and playing-coach Neil Winterton said that this year the club will make significant strides towards success.
Mitcham’s Round 3 performance highlighted this composure as it managed to fight back to win convincingly against Heathmont after conceding seven first-quarter goals.
“It was really pleasing for our boys to be able to respond,” Winterton said.
“If it was last year and we were down by five goals at quarter time, it would have been more of the same for the next three terms.
“We’re a really young side but I think we are starting to show some really good maturity in that we don’t lie down.
“We’ve got the belief and confidence in ourselves that we’ll be able to run away with a win.”
A key component of Mitcham’s early success has been its dominant forward line, in particular Jake Parente who leads Division 2 in goal-kicking with 10 and Brett Dewacht who’s tied for second with nine.
Winterton said that having a forward line with so many options causes headaches for the opposition.
“We are really fortunate in that we’ve got multiple avenues to goal,” he said.
“Jake Parente is certainly one of the best forwards in the competition and Brett Dewacht, who’s new to the club this year, he’s been fantastic as well.
“It makes it difficult for the opposition to know who to focus on.”
Winterton spoke of his side’s youth stocks and the development that some of the junior boys are starting to show at senior level, with full back Lachlan Rudd a standout.
“’Ruddy’ in particular this year has taken some massive steps forward,” Winterton said.
“He plays undersize every week but he’s such an explosive player that once the ball hits the deck he’s got a huge advantage on his opponent.
“He has really taken a massive step forward.”
Despite all the positives, Winterton is wary of his side’s defensive woes, conceding seven goals in a term in back-to-back games.
“I don’t think any coach is happy conceding as many goals as we are at the moment,” he said.
“It’s a lapse in games where we are allowing too many goals in patches which we certainly need to clean up.
“You certainly don’t want to get in the habit of being five goals down at quarter time because more often than not you’re not going to be able to get out of that hole.”
Mitcham is away against Mulgrave this weekend who is coming off its first win of the season.
