Deer Park coach Marc Bullen has declared this season his “biggest challenge” in the coaching box and that is fast becoming a reality.
The five-time defending premier has made an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, going 1-2 in the opening three rounds.
The Lions lost a low-scoring thriller to Spotswood by four points in the Western Region Football League division 1 game at McLean Reserve on Saturday.
“We’ve built up a rivalry with Spotswood over the course of the last 10, 15, 20 years,” Bullen said.
“We wanted to get ourselves up to try to get the four points and to lose to them is very disappointing.”
Only seldom do the Lions have passengers in their team, but Bullen said that was certainly the case against Spotswood.
It is concerning to Bullen that his side has not managed to fill the injury voids so far as a number of his regulars are down on their usual output and some recruits have been slow to adapt to the WRFL.
“I can’t question anyone’s commitment … but the reality is, we’ve got too many players not impacting the game for greater periods of the game,” Bullen said.
Bullen bemoaned Deer Park’s sloppy skills entering the forward 50. The Lions could not capitalise on swathes of play forward of centre, particularly in a dominant third quarter.
“Our forward 50 entries were quite poor and they took their opportunities when they went coast to coast,” he said.
“Spotty have a terrific defence and they had some really good key match-ups, so if we don’t put the ball to our favoured side forward, it’s going to make the job harder.”
Deer Park’s only four quarter performers were veterans Shannon Byrnes and Chris Stewart. Byrnes was outstanding in his midfield role, while Stewart had a fine battle with Spotswood’s ruckman Murray Boyd.
“They were enormous,” Bullen said.
“Shannon, in particular, just worked his backside off all day.
“Hopefully some of the new recruits and younger players can see what it takes from them.
“If you’re only having two or three put their hand up and the rest are passengers, you’re going to get beaten.”
Who would have thought that we would get to the grand final re-match between Deer Park and Sunshine Kangaroos in round four with both sides in a spot of bother with 1-2 records?
The reality is that come Saturday night, one of those clubs will be 1-3, which will make for a long road back in a close season.
“It’s a tough competition and there’s a lot of teams vying for finals,” Bullen said.
“They’re not playing that well as well, so the two grand final sides from last year are trying to get four points, so it’s going to be a hard challenge.
“We’ll do a long review, pull out a few home truths and look some guys between the eyes and demand a better performance.”
Elsewhere in division 1, Albion had a convincing 53-point win over Wyndhamvale. James Thompson booted four goals.
Sunshine was rolled by Altona to the tune of 55 points, while St Albans lost by 45 points to top side Werribee Districts.
In division 2, Albanvale was on the receiving end of a 79-point thrashing from Point Cook.
In division 3, North Sunshine had a 29-point win over Glen Orden, while Sunshine Heights went down to Wyndham Suns by 55 points.
In senior women’s, Caroline Springs held Laverton scoreless in a 142-point win, while North Sunshine copped a 68-point clobbering from Werribee Centrals.
