By: Tash Gunawardana
TEMPLESTOWE currently sits third in Division 2 with eight wins and four losses ahead of the split round this weekend.
The Dockers came off a narrow four-point victory over fifth-placed Heathmont at Templestowe Reserve in what was a low-scoring affair.
Senior coach Craig Decorsey spoke to EFL Sunday after his side’s win, highlighting his side’s best.
“Ollie Lodge actually kicked two and led the goal-kicking and then there were singles, obviously it was a pretty low scoring game, from both sides, so there weren’t too many goals kicked,” he said.
“We had some really good players on the ground and we thought Patrick Wilson who played on Fin Brown (and) kept him to one goal, which was a really good effort obviously.
“Our captain Danny Pearce led from the front through the midfield and we thought Ollie Lodge bounced back to a bit of form up forward as well.”
Templestowe has used over 40 players this season and Decorsey says it’s been a credit to the club’s depth.
“I think we are up to 41 now as of (Saturday),” Decorsey said.
“You don’t go into a season thinking you are going to playing 41 players at the senior level.
“We bat very deep and we have a really strong list at the moment and a good mix of youth and experience, so it’s a credit to the boys.
“We are just playing our system, so it doesn’t really matter who’s in or out.
“We want to play the same way every time, so the boys are pretty well-drilled with how we want to play when they come in, they very much know their role and they do it to the best of their ability.
“We just front up each week, so we feel we have got a good side no matter who’s playing and I’m really proud of the group of 40-odd players and to keep getting results is a testament to the boys,” Decorsey said.
Decorsey is well-aware of the low-scoring trend of his side this season which has seen a number of tight finishes.
“We know it’s not going to be a blow out, doesn’t matter who we play but we really need to get our defensive mechanisms right then hopefully we score on the back of that,” he said.
“From a coaching point of view, we’d love it to be a little bit easier in the box but we know it’s not going to be.
“We know it’s going to be an arm wrestle every week, so we’re prepared for that.”
Decorsey has been pleased with the buy-in of the playing group this season.
“They front up each week, they listen, they are learning more and they just want to be a part of this group and whatever role that is they got to play on the day,” he said.
“That changes week to week on availability and every single player just grasps their role each week and do their best for the team and that’s all you could ask really as a coach.”
Templestowe faces Mulgrave away from home after the week’s break on July 20.