By Tara Murray
From looking to be in the relegation battle to being in the conversation for promotion, it’s been a big few weeks for Westvale Olympic in the FV state league 1 north-west season.
Westvale was sitting bottom of the ladder early in the season but has turned its season around and was sitting in third spot heading into round 14 on the weekend.
Coach Bill Georgopoulos said a big loss to Yarraville Glory proved to be the turning point for the playing group.
“We had a 4-0 loss to Yarraville and it was embarrassing,” he said. “The last four games the boys have turned it around.
“We play second placed Banyule to see if we can beat them. It’s a really good opportunity.
“Seven weeks ago we were sitting bottom and now we are able to play well and possibly playing for a promotion spot, it’s massive for us.”
Georgopoulos said he couldn’t have imagined the turnaround from when they were bottom to now.
He said they had seen some good signs at times early on in what is turning out to be a close competition.
“When we played Corio it was third last verus fourth last,” he said. “At that moment something changed.
“The mindset changed and we changed a few things and tinkered a couple of things in the system.
“It has worked.”
Georgopoulos was full of credit for the playing group and what they had been able to do.
He said they had all stuck with the club despite a number being approached during the transfer window.
Westvale has upped the scoring during its four straight wins, scoring 14 goals in four matches.
Georgopoulos said it was a matter of confidence that is now within the playing group.
“The good thing is we are sharing the scoring load now,” he said. “Our wingers and midfielders have been scoring as well, which has been very positive.”
While encouraged with the run of form, Georgopoulos knows that one loss could see them drop down the ladder quickly.
He said the match with Banyule, which is a pretty strong team and has a good record at home, would be a good test for them.
“We are up against it at the end of the day,” he said. “We have been up against it for the last four weeks.
“The start of the season we had a lot of injuries and were struggling to get victories on the park.
“It was pretty bad. To come together was the goal.”
Georgopoulos said their goal pre-season was to ensure they scored 25 points for the season, with only one team being relegated on that amount of points in the last 12 years.
After 13 rounds, Westvale was sitting on 21 points.
Georgopoulos said there was a still a long way to go with several challenges ahead of them.
“We still want to hit that 25 point mark and whatever happens then, happens.
“After beating Upfield we said we wanted to try and poach second spot and it’s a testament to the players and there’s something to fight for rather than the relegation dogfight.”
