There have been no signs of a premiership hangover for defending premier bowls champions Altona.
After taking out the top prize in Bowls Victoria’s pennant competition last season, the A’s have started their 2015-16 campaign with a bang.
They smashed Melbourne in round one and belted Brighton 16 (114)-2 (52) in round two to be one of three unbeaten teams.
The hot start has come as no surprise for those close to the A’s brains trust, with the club working hard over the off-season to ensure the stay at the top end of the ladder is a long one.
Altona has added exciting teenage duo Jayden Christie and Ben Cotter to its playing squad.
Christie, a Werribee local, is a member of the Australian under-18 side and has enjoyed outstanding results at both Victorian and national levels.
Cotter, who hails from Lara, took out the under-18 singles at the Victorian championships earlier this year.
Altona coach Brett Foley said the two youngsters had fitted in perfectly.
“It’s been great to get both of those boys into the team,” he said. “They have never played premier league before but, so far, they’re both enjoying it. Hopefully, they can keep improving. Bringing them in gives blokes in the side that responsibility to lead. Adding some extra talent also puts pressure on everyone else to stay in the side.”
Altona has managed to keep its premiership squad together, with all players recommitting for the 2015-16 season. In an effort to mirror their previous success, the A’s have been through a tough pre-season campaign which included playing in the national fives tournament in Queensland and taking on a number of their premier division rivals in a Bundoora-based round robin.
Foley has spoken to his group about the target on their backs that comes with winning the premiership. But he said that rather than being daunted by the tag, his players were looking forward to the challenge.
“In every game we play, everyone knows we’re the ones who won the flag last year,” he said. “We know everyone will take it up to us.
“We see the first four games as really important because we want to get off to a good start. We want to make finals; it would be a big disappointment to not make them the year after winning a flag.”
Altona will take on Bundoora in a home fixture this week.
