By Tara Murray
Epping broke through for its first win of the Northern Football League division 2 season on Saturday.
After a tough run, the Pingers showed their growing confidence on Saturday against Watsonia.
In wet conditions, the Pingers won 5.8 (38)-2.6 (18). The Pingers led from start to finish in their most consistent performance of the season.
Pingers coach Aaron Johnson said the playing group deserved to get a win on the board.
“It was great, but I was most excited for the boys,” he said.
“It’s about them. The playing group has worked really hard and they got what they deserved.”
After a stop-start season with byes and weeks off, Johnson said being able to play two games in a row had been a big benefit this week.
He said they had finished the game off well against ladder leaders Banyule the week before and had been able to continue that this week.
“Against every team this year we’ve shown moments of brilliance,” he said.
“We showed it consistently for four quarters this week.
“It was a bit wet and wild, I think we adjusted to the conditions better early on.”
Leading by 12 points heading into the final break, Johnson said the message was clear to the playing group.
“Our captain [Leigh Judd] got knocked out from friendly fire,” he said.
“He leads from the front. For the group it was for them to step up and do it for him and do it for themselves.”
Sage Dicello was the only multiple goal kicker on the ground, kicking two goals.
Johnson said Tom Burnside was the standout for the side in a good team performance.
Dicello and Adam Rose were both standouts for Epping.
“Tom has played two great games in a row,” he said.
“It was a really good team effort. Everyone was able to beat their opponent.”
Johnson said being such a young group, the win would give the side a lot of confidence going forward.
This week Epping face Eltham.
In a boost this week, Lucas Aquilina will return to the side.
“We have to work really hard and hopefully get some reward for effort in the second half of the season.”
In other results, Whittlesea won a low scoring affair against Eltham.
Neither side was able to get control of the match, with the teams trading the lead throughout.
The Eagles trailed by seven points at the last break, but were able to kick the only goal of the last quarter to win, 3.8 (26)-3.4 (22).
Max Dyson was named the Eagles’ best in his 200th game.
The Eagles move to third on the ladder, percentage behind second-placed Eltham.
Thomastown, which had the bye, sits in fourth.
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