Max Hatzoglou
Keilor coach Mick McGuane is pleased with his side’s strong start to the EDFL season although he is mindful of the impact Covid can have as he looks to take on the season “week to week”.
In round two, the club recorded an impressive 27-point victory over last year’s ladder leader Strathmore but McGuane was wary of the players they were missing for the game.
“Stramore are a very good footy team but we also are respectful of the fact that they had very important players out of their forward line not playing,” McGuane said.
“So as much as it was good to win by 27 points, we are also mindful of the fact that they were far from full strength.
“And I suppose neither were we because we didn’t have Nicholas O’Kearney, Jesse Wallin and Darcy Cassar who I think are pretty important players to us.”
McGuane was also mindful that a lot could change over the season.
“We’re mindful of the fact that winning games in round one and two don’t necessarily equate to premiership victories in three or four months’ time.
“Personnel can change a lot, particularly in this period of time that’s challenging with Covid.
“A lot can happen as we know, it’s a moving beast, it has been for the last couple of years.
“Last season to finish the way it did to Covid, hopefully it doesn’t happen again because retaining players is quite difficult.
“Players are probably a little bit indecisive, whether they will play, won’t play, works become more of a priority than ever, particularly with players with careers, their own businesses, work on Saturday might be a priority as opposed to playing a game of footy which is totally understandable.
“That can still happen in the next four months so we just play it week to week and if we’re good enough we will be a part of September action.”
McGuane said the club was fortunate to have a positive culture so the training numbers were high, even reaching above 100 at times.
Max Hatzoglou