Yarraville Glory has reluctantly had to recalibrate its mindset after moving up to FFV’s top flight this season.
Glory, so used to challenging for promotions, may have to put those lofty ambitions on hold for a year as they strive to find their feet in the intimidating state league 1 competition.
The lowering of the bar is not something the players want to hear about, but Glory coach Charlie Egan told
Star Weekly his side was not realistically equipped to challenge for the league title in year one, particularly with gun strikers Darcey Den Ouden (foot injury) and Goran Jozeljic (suspension) missing the early part of the season.
“The job description changes this year,” Egan said. “The club will be delighted to stay in this league, so all of a sudden our expectations change.
“Last year we had to get promoted, which is difficult because you’ve got to go out and beat teams. Now, you pick up a point here and a point there, jag a victory here and there.
“Two of the hardest things are to change the mindset of the players and not be too disappointed at losing games.
“You have to realise what your resources are and where you belong. Our realistic expectation is survival and middle of the ladder.”
What makes selling the concept all the harder for Egan is when Yarraville defies the odds and produces a stirring victory, as it did in a 1-0 triumph over North Sunshine Eagles at McIvor Reserve on Saturday.
The undermanned Glory came up with a winning goal through Tony Themistokleous 15 minutes into the second half.
It was a morale-boosting win for the Glory, who suffered a 3-0 loss to Keilor Park in the season opener a week earlier.
“North Sunshine is a good football team,” Egan said after the match. “Last year, they were challenging to win it until the last day.
“We really need to put in the effort we put in today in every game. We can’t afford any passengers and we didn’t today.
“Everybody rolled up their sleeves and worked hard and we got what we deserved.”
Glory will resist the temptation to sign attacking reinforcements in the absences of Den Ouden and Jozeljic.
Den Ouden (16 goals) and Jozeljic (10) were two of the keys to last season’s promotion and were the most potent strike combination in state league 2.
“It would be unfair for me to sign a striker knowing full well that when these two guys come back then you’re pretty much off the pitch,” Egan said. “It’s not the right thing to do.”
The Glory will be at home for a third straight game on Saturday when they entertain Diamond Valley United, who went down 5-0 to Altona Magic on Saturday, thanks to a Jon McShane hat-trick.
Altona East Phoenix lost 3-0 away to Western Suburbs on Sunday.
Elsewhere, Altona City was no match for a rampaging Corio in state league 2, losing 3-1 at Hume Reserve.
FC Williamstown scored two late goals in a 2-2 draw with Melbourne University in state league 3, but Melbourne City went down 2-0 to Lalor United.
