Tara Murray
Patience is the key for Calder Cannons as they approach the back half of the Coates Talent League boys season.
With a different competition structure this season, the Cannons like other Victorian clubs had more than a month off from matches.
With just two games in six weeks there has been a bit of work ensuring that the group has come back together to start building for the second part of the season.
Cannons coach Andrew Sturgess said they understood that the break was there to allow the kids to play as much football as possible, but it was challenging at times.
“There’s nationals and there’s school footy for a large contingent of players,” he said. “That takes priority at this time of the year.
“The AFL saw this as an opportunity to have them play as many games as possible and gain experience.
“The challenge is to get everyone back to that level. It has been a bit disjointed.”
Sturgess said their first game back it took a quarter to get going and they finished really strong.
They played two gams before another week off and he expected it to take a quarter or even a game to find their feet.
The Cannons were back in action on Saturday against the Eastern Ranges, who entered the game in a similar boat.
The Cannons trailed in the first half before 10 goals to three in the second half to seal a 17.10 (112)-11.9 (75) win.
Sturgess said another positive out of so many breaks was the opportunity for players to make their senior debuts.
Jordan Croft, Naim, Nash King are among those to play senior football.
“A fair few have played senior football this year,” he said. “It’s good for them, one or two years they’ll be playing in the AFL, state league or community football open age.
“They have bigger bodies and guys with more experience and greater tricks in their arsenal, it will only make them better.”
The Cannons have four players in the Vic Metro squad, which Sturgess said was really encouraging.
Potential father-son pick Jordan Croft and Mahmoud Taha are in the squad, while bottom agers Nash King and Harry O’Farrell also made the squad.
Sturgess said there were several others who were close to making the squad, and the advice to them was not to give up as it doesn’t always determine if you get drafted.
The Cannons now have a good run of games with only one more bye for the season.
Sturgess said they were hoping to gain some momentum and see what happens from there.
