Reigning premier Greensborough has started the men’s Premier League hockey season with mixed results but the team is anything but worried.
Coach Marten de Man said that following its grand final victory last season the club had endured a “different” start to season 2015.
The Plenty-based team started the season with two of its gun players missing.
“It has been a difficult start with trying to continue on from last season,” de Man said before the weekend’s match.
“Tim Cross was in the Australian squad and was given his first Test cap while Casey Hammond went to Tasmania to play for Australia A.
“They both missed a game, so it gave the opportunity to other guys to step up and see what depth we have in the squad.”
He said the younger players hadn’t been overawed in the top division.
“We don’t need them to be playing beyond their limits,” de Man said. “We are more concerned about them playing their role and wining their position.
“Brendan Ford has pushed his way into the team and played three of the four games so far.”
De Man said the side had been creating opportunities to score but hadn’t been able to get the ball in the net.
The Burras are 3-2 after five rounds and defeated Footscray 2-1 on Sunday.
“The focus is to get the tempo and work-rate high from start to finish,” the coach said.
“We need to start taking chances from penalties and scoring shots. We need to put pressure on instead of chasing games.”
De Man said the side was in a good place to add to the 2014 premiership.
“Besides the goalkeeper, everyone is under 30, with the average age 25 to 26,” he said.
“We have optimum experience bit still a lot of development and improvement in us.
“We aren’t looking at renewing the team – they are in their prime.
“This year it’s about giving ourselves the best opportunity and that’s finishing top two with the double chance.”
“Come finals time, anything can happen.
“We’re more concerned about how we are playing … results will take care of themselves.”
