Sport
30 March, 2022
Bloods face Magpies in first round examination
TERANG Mortlake takes on Camperdown in the first round of the Hampden League season for 2022, and new A grade coach Sharon Kenna is looking forward to assessing her side’s progress through the pre-season.
TERANG Mortlake takes on Camperdown in the first round of the Hampden League season for 2022, and new A grade coach Sharon Kenna is looking forward to assessing her side’s progress through the pre-season.
After winning just two games in a truncated 2021 season the Bloods have put their faith in Kenna’s extensive coaching experience, hoping to improve on last year’s disappointing results.
Kenna said an influx of players has breathed new life into the squad but the success of the team’s pre-season could only be assessed after she saw them in action in competitive matches.
“We’ve got a mix of experience and some new players this year, and I’m quietly happy with how they’re going at training,” she said.
“I think once we’ve played a few games together we should gel really well, but it’s hard to know until you’ve played your first couple of games.”
Kenna said her players were showing their commitment to this year’s campaign with their work ethic and willingness to improve.
“I really like that they’re keen to take on board what I’m saying to them,”
she said.
“They’re working hard and I think as the season goes on we should show some real promise with how we go against other teams.”
Despite a poor record last season the Bloods remained competitive in most of their matches, and Kenna believes the team’s depth this year, and the internal competition that creates, can only benefit the club.
“I’ve got some good versatility in this side, and we’ve got good depth as well,” she said.
“There are some players coming through who are knocking on the door trying to get into the A grade side, which is good because it creates competition.”
While experienced players like Jacqui Arundell remain to anchor the team, fresh faces such as Ballarat’s Eboni Knights in goal shooter and a new-look backline present both opportunities and challenges for the side.
“Eboni’s new to our club and she’s getting really involved, but it can take a few games to get a feel of what the competition’s about,” Kenna said.
“She’s working with the likes of Jacqui Arundell, and they seem to be coming along and working really well off each other, but until you get to that game situation you just don’t know.
“And the new defensive line-up might take some time, when you’ve got a new group of girls it can take a little bit longer to anticipate each other, to read each other and feel comfortable.
“In saying that, they’ve been training really well together, we’ve played some practice matches and they’ve got a bit of a feel for what’s expected.”
Kenna says Camperdown, a side she coached for two years, would provide a great opportunity to test out how well her players were coming together as
a team.
“I know a lot of those girls at Camperdown, and they have a slightly different side but I have a fair idea of how they play,” she said.
“I think we can be competitive against them, and it’ll give us a good read on where we’re at.
“I just want the girls to do the basics correctly, get a feel for how the game’s flowing, and build from that.”