By: Joseph Arthur
MITCHAM claimed first position on the Division 2 ladder after a comprehensive victory over Templestowe in a battle for top spot.
After a disappointing loss against Boronia and some narrow victories against bottom-tier sides, questions were being asked of the Tigers’ credibility as a top flight team.
Playing-coach Neil Winterton said he was happy the boys could quiet down the critics and make a statement.
“It was a huge game, whoever won that game was going to be on top of the ladder so that was obviously important,” Winterton said.
“I think also there might have been a bit of a perception amongst other teams that maybe we didn’t deserve to be where we were on the ladder, given our record against the top four teams.
“It was just important to really make a statement and really let the rest of the competition know that we’re a serious player.
In the past month, Mitcham has only suffered one loss, making it one of the hottest teams in the competition and with bottom-placed Scoresby up next week, this form will likely continue.
One of the youngest sides in the competition, Winterton said he’s happy his young players have found some consistency. Their ability to focus each week and come to play has been impressive.
Winterton credited experience as the key driver behind the younger players improved performances week in and week out.
“No doubt we’re obviously a really young team,” Winterton said.
“We’ve got some really good young talent and it’s such an even competition that you’ve got to be on your best every week otherwise you’re going to be beaten.
“It’s just one of those competitions where there are no easy games, you’ve just got to come to play and I think that’s been the biggest step in our maturity this year.
“Last year we were sort of up and down with our performance, whereas this year, you know, our performance has been much more consistent.
“That just comes with guys getting more experience with senior footy and realising what they need to do to be successful.”
At this point in the season, the top four is essentially set in stone – unless Heathmont can pull off something spectacular – and Winterton said last weekend’s win was exactly the kind of game that bodes well for finals.
Mitcham’s ability to put together a four-quarter effort and keep Templestowe out of the game has set the standard for the remainder of the year. Now, the Tigers need to continually meet that expectation each week as finals approach.
“I thought (Saturday) was the best intensity we’ve had at the footy and that was a real focus of ours throughout the week,” Winterton said.
“We made a couple of little adjustments to sort of strengthen us up in that area.
“You’re never 100 per cent happy as a coach but yeah, that’s about as close as you can get I think.
“I was really proud of the boys efforts yesterday, we’d sort of been playing in bits and spurts throughout the year.
“Certainly (Saturday’s) performance was the best performance we’ve had for quite a while.”
With the club performing so strongly, belief amongst Mitcham’s notoriously passionate fan-base has been growing, with many beginning to sense that this could be their year.
Winterton said the team feeds off the fans passion and the big turn-outs to games really helps the players out.
“They’re (Mitcham fans) always up and about, as you know they’re a very passionate supporter base which is great,” Winterton said.
“They’re always very happy when we get a win.”