Tara Murray
Green Gully is hoping to close the gap on the top three teams in the coming rounds in the National Premier League.
The Cavaliers sit fourth after eight rounds, and have shown some really positive signs in the early rounds.
Coach Stephen Downes said the side was getting better each week.
“When we played against the top teams, we challenged and weren’t getting the results,” he said.
“When we’ve played against the teams around us, we have done well and got results.
“We need to take the next step and compete more against the three teams above us.”
Downes said the difference between them and the top few sides early on had been the experience of those sides.
He said they were still a really new side that was learning how to play together.
“I think the teams above us have got a lot more settled squad at the moment,” he said.
“We’re still getting used to our learning behaviours. We’ve got different combinations and we’re still learning things.
“They have selected some experienced squads above us.”
Downes said while they didn’t like to use age as a factor in the results, he did highlight that they are playing with four teenagers in the squad.
“If you’re good enough, you will play no matter your age,” he said.
“Justin Spiteri, Mitchell Graham and Tyler Vecchio are all 21 and under and it’s pleasing to see them step up. They are in the squad for a reason.
“We know they have good ability and when you put them into the game they have been able to stand up.
“It’s next man up and they have been able to stand up.”
After a strong start, Downes said they continue to take it one week at a time. He said every team is beatable and they have to be on their game.
“We’re eight rounds in and the lads are still getting to know each other,” he said. “We are improving week in, week out.
“Another eight rounds from now, we will look for things to be better as a collective than they are now.”
While the Cavaliers have had strong NPL form, the side was knocked out of the Australia Cup.
Last year they made the national stage of the competition
“We were knocked out by the Eastern Lions,” he said. “That was disappointing, but it clarifies where our concentration is at.
“We only have one league to go for and we can purely focus on that.
“It does help not having the mid week games like last year, but you always want to play in every game you can.”
The Cavaliers were set to face Hume City on Friday night, after deadline.
Hume entered the match eighth on the table.
