Tara Murray
The buy-in from the Sunshine Heights playing group is one of the key reasons for the side’s strong start to the Western Region Football League division 3 season.
After losing in round one to Albanvale, the Dragons have won their next three games to sit in the top four.
Coach Colby Blyth said he couldn’t have asked for much more from the playing group so far.
“The commitment from the players has been amazing,” he said. “They want to be better and emphasising putting in more effort.
“It’s really noticeable that it has sunk in with the younger players who understand that they want to be better and want to spend more time and more effort doing that.
“I’m extremely happy.”
Another area the Dragons have improved is on the scoreboard, having put up some big scores already.
Blyth says that comes back to the defensive pressure.
“The pressure on the ball handler has definitely improved,” he said.
“It’s helping create more scoring opportunities and we have a fair few avenues to goal. The more scoring options the better.”
Blyth said the group was keen to get better and it was something they know will occur throughout the season.
Having added a number of players in the off season they always knew that it was going to take some time to settle.
“Gelling will take some time,” he said. “To get the right mix and the players on the same level.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, but it’s a really good position for us.
“We’re winning games of footy and the improvement to come for me is really exciting for the group and the club.
The Dragons faced Tarneit on the Saturday, winning 16.10 (106)-10.9 (69).
It comes after a week off with the bye. Blyth said it came at perfect timing.
“We had a few guys with a few niggles,” he said. “The bye worked in our favour.
“The whole fixture is good for us. We now have six games and then a bye.”
With fixtures against the Suns and Albanvale, the two top teams in the next two weeks, the Dragons are going to get a better indication of where they sit.
Blyth said they were keen for the challenge.
“We want to see where we are at,” he said. “Round one was a good challenge for us… I feel like we have a bit more of a platform now that we can challenge them.
