Tara Murray
Keilor knows it can’t take the foot off the pedal in the Essendon District Football League premier division.
The Blues sit atop the ladder after seven rounds, but Aberfeldie, Pascoe Vale and East Keilor are among the chasing pack.
Blues coach Mick McGuane said there had been a lot of good signs, but still a lot of hard work to come.
“We’re quite happy with how we sit,” he said.
“We’ve had no Dean Galea for most part of the season and had a couple of players who haven’t play. We’ve had seven debutants.
“There’s a lot of upside and that next generation of players is coming through.
“We have to maintain the rage and play consistent football. If you can manage that, you play at the end of the season in a high position.”
The Blues who beat Pascoe Vale on the weekend, showed first hand what they could do against East Keilor.
After an even start, the Blues kicked away in the second half to get a big win against a side looking to make an impression in the premier division.
McGuane said it was a great game of football.
“It was first versus second on the ladder,” he said. “We were pretty happy.
“We were efficient with the ball and our conversion was good. We defended the ground the best we could in the first half.
“We were quite happy how we finished off the second half.”
The win was a handy one, after losing to second-placed Aberfeldie in an unlike Blues performance earlier in the season.
McGuane said that match didn’t even cross their mind heading in the East Keilor game, knowing that they had been missing 11 players out of their best side.
With key players out, the Blues have had to try some different things down forward and give young guys a go in the ruck against experienced opposition.
Leading the way for the Blues this season has been the next generation of leaders who have had to step up in the absence of others.
Galea has played just two games, while premiership winning captain Kane Barbuto may miss the rest of the season.
The premiership winning coach said Galea was getting closer to a return to the field, they just wanted to make sure he was fully fit.
McGuane said that the next group were leading both on and off the field.
“Kane is possibly out for the year,” McGuane said. “He’s got a new job in the fire brigade.
“He might be back at the end of the year, but we have to plan for the next generation to fill the spot.
“Nick O’Kearney has been captain and rightfully so. He’s an outstanding player and it was Kane’s decision for him to take over.
“That next generation of leaders, Brad Xavier, Jesse Wallin and Brett Stillman are doing outstanding roles.”
