Tara Murray
There was plenty of joy for Epping as it picked up its first win of the Northern Football League division 2 season.
The Pingers, who have slowly built this season, produced a strong four quarter performance to account for Lower Plenty, 15.13 (103)-9.6 (60).
Pingers co-coach Glen Lehner said the win had been weeks in the making.
“It was fantastic for the playing group, the coaches and all the supporters of the club,” he said.
“We got two wins on the weekend. It happened last year as well.
“We have slowly been improving without getting a win, to get the win for the boys and having such a new group, it’s a real reward for effort.”
Lehner said they thought a couple of weeks ago they were close to getting a win, but were a bit off and didn’t get the points.
He said they spoke about it on Thursday night at training.
“We spoke about how we wanted to approach it,” he said. “We wanted to do all the right things.
“There was a real calmness across the group.
“The boys played a really fantastic team oriented game.”
Lehner said they blew their key performance indicators out the window in the first quarter and continued that in the second quarter.
He said that gave them plenty of positivity at the break.
“At half time we knew that if we kept hitting those KPIs we would be competitive,” he said.
“We beat them really well and there’s good signs for the group.”
Daniel Rakhlin kicked four goals for the Pingers, while another five players kicked multiple goals.
Lehner said skipper Leigh Judd led from the front and was well supported by Caleb Newport, Jordan Hollow, and Rakhlin, who turned 18 during the week.
He also pointed out the games of a couple of others who played really important roles.
“Tom Muscat made the call to take their centre half back,” he said. “He said he is mine and took him out of the game, he sacrificed his game a bit.
“Mitchell Moate was picked in the under-16 state side last week. He kicked two goals and he was really instrumental.”
The win now leaves the Pingers a game ahead of Lower Plenty at the bottom end of the table.
This week they face Panton Hill.
Lehner said they were focused on continuing to improve week in, week out.
“There are no easy games in division 2,” he said.
“Panton Hill was 40 points down and came back and drew. It will be a big test for us.
“We want to keep improving on what we’ve done.”
Thomastown had to settle for a draw after being 44 points up at half time against Panton Hill.
Panton Hill kicked nine goals to four in the second half to secure a 15.16 (106)-16.10 (106) draw.
South Morang accounted for Northcote Park, 14.9 (93)-7.10 (52).
