With three weeks to go of the Victorian Amateur Football Association premier C season PEGS remains in a strong position.
Moving up a grade with a new captain and coaches was never going to be easy, but sitting in third position with three rounds to play, they are well above anyone’s expectations.
After starting the season undefeated from the first eight rounds, things have slightly tapered for the club, losing key players to injuries and overseas trips.
With players making their way back into the side and selection tightening up, co-coach Andrew Beever and skipper Zach Genovesi remain confident they can venture deep into the finals series.
“It’s been a really good start, from when I first walked in and met all the players, especially off the back of a really successful year, you saw the players still had this inner drive, and burn, to get better this year,” Beever said.
“We’re starting to get players back, Jack Mckernan’s back now, he’s played a couple of games. Simmo (Riley Simmons) played in the twos, Riley Macdonald will be back after the break [and] Sagg (Tom Saggio) as well, so things are looking good.”
Genovesi said while the season has been positive it has still had its ups and downs. He said the biggest thing he noticed in venturing up a grade was the lack of easy wins, and every game felt like a grind.
“We sort of had a bit of a form slump mid year, which is standard procedure with most local footy teams,” he said.
“I felt like those losses were sort of coming because those games before the losses we were just sort of scraping over the line.
“It really made us regroup and think twice about a few things and how to deal with different situations. So I think it’s been a good learning curve. But there’s still a long way to go.”
With adversity through selection the club has been able to blend younger players through its senior side.
“It’s opened up so many opportunities for guys like Ethan Caddeo who we knew could play, but has stepped up when he’s had to and he’s still in the team,” Genovesi said.
“We need to get these young guys playing as much as we can.”
Beever added players such as Zach Hertz, Ben Thomson, Damian Belia and Jamie Akhurst have all been able to play senior football which keeps the club in good stead moving forward.
“Our depth has been really good and to be able to play these young guys, who in three to four years are going to be so good, has been one of the best things for the year,” Beever said.
PEGS will play bottom placed Marcelin on the weekend after having a bye during round 15.
Harper Sercombe
