Tara Murray
Sunshine is preparing for different challenges each week in the Western Football League division 2 competition.
With division 2 and 3 combining this season, the Kangaroos are facing sides that they’ve never played before.
The Kangaroos have had two very different matchups in their first two matches, last season’s division 2 runners-up Albion on Good Friday and division 3 wooden spooners, North Sunshine on Saturday.
Kangaroos coach Ben Chapman said both matches had taught them different things about their game.
“We had chances against Albion but unfortunately weren’t able to win in the end,” he said. “There were a lot of positives out of the game.
“Against North Sunshine we played some good periods, but need to do some work on our goalkicking.”
Chapman said it was hard for the teams that were at the bottom of division 3 last season to play some of the stronger sides from division 2 so early in the season.
He said those sides needed a chance to find their feet and would have been better playing each other first.
On Saturday against the Roadrunners, it was all one way traffic on the scoreboard in the direction of the Kangaroos.
The Kangaroos came away with a 37.31 (253)-0.1 (1). The Kangaroos scored at least eight goals in every quarter.
Nathan Carroll kicked 13 goals in his debut for the Kangaroos, while Daniel Castellano and Hisham Kerbatieh kicked seven goals each.
Jordan Davis and Kahlan Williams were named the Kangaroos best.
Chapman said the Roadrunners effort was great and they didn’t give up.
Chapman said the additions of Carroll and Castellano helped fill a couple of holes they had targeted, including some more targets up forward.
The Kangaroos also signed Cooper McPharlane, but it’s unclear whether he will play this year
“That was the aim,” he said. “We were a little bit thin in the front half. Charly Williams, who didn’t play yesterday, had a fantastic ear and needed more support.”
Having made finals in their first season back in division 2 after being relegated, Chapman said they want to be in the mix come the end of the season.
He said they would only get better as the season goes on after having several players out during the pre-season.
“That’s the first goal to win enough games to qualify and make finals,” he said. “We want to be a more consistent team and the results will take care of itself.
“Hopefully we’ll see the fruits of that as the season rolls on.”
The Kangaroos face another former division 3 side this week in Sunshine Heights. It’ll essentially be a third straight Sunshine derby, with Albion’s ground based in Sunshine.
“Hardest thing for us, we don’t know a lot about many of these sides,” Chapman said.
In other matches, Sunshine Heights lost to North Footscray, Braybrook beat Tarneit and Albion smashed Albanvale.
