Keilor on the right track to make finals

Keilor
Keilor's Kallyn Gent. Picture Shawn Smits.

By Tara Murray

Keilor has a better understanding of where it sits in the Essendon District Football League Women’s Premier division competition.

Under a new coach and with two teams merging into one, the Blues were an unknown quantity heading into the season.

They have shown though that they will be a contender, sitting second, with only two losses to an undefeated Aberfeldie.

Blues coach Ron Sikora said they were getting a better understanding of where the team is at in terms of personnel and skill.

“From a club point of view with new coaching personnel we knew it would take a few weeks,” he said.

“We’re still going through all the players and knowing where they fit in the side.”

Sikora said one focus this year had been changing the mentality away from the game just being a social outing.

He said there was a great culture at the club, but they wanted to take things to the next level.

“It is different, but credit to the girls who are taking it on board.”

Sikora said they had been working on a few areas that would help them close the gap with Aberfeldie.

“Take away the start and it could have gone either way,” Sikora said of the second time they played the Gorillas.

“That has now been our focus. We had a slow start against Westmeadows as well.

“That was the focus against Hillside and we were able to rectify that.

“If we meet them [Aberfeldie] again, who knows what will happen.”

He said some players who were yet to secure their spots in the side were making sure they were putting in the extra work away from the group to try and secure their place.

He said there had been some good growth within the group.

The Blues face Strathmore this weekend, after having the week off for the Queen’s Birthday weekend.

The Blues have an easy draw in the back half of the season, facing only one of the top six teams in the run home.

Sikora said they would have liked to face some of those top sides in the run home.

“It’s not ideal heading into finals, as they’re the sides that you want to play.

“There’s some targets we want to meet. We’ll be watching how it all plays out.”

In other women’s matches this weekend, Hillside faces Aberfeldie and Burnside Heights plays Pascoe Vale.

In division 1, Keilor Park faces Essendon Doutta Stars.

Meanwhile, Keilor’s undefeated men’s side faces Essendon Doutta Stars.