Crusaders big back end

(Jacob Pattison)389832_01

Tara Murray

It is a much needed break for the Western Crusaders in the Gridiron Victoria senior division competitions.

With the Melbourne Cup, the division 1 Vic Bowl and division 2 competitions both had the weekend off.

Crusaders Tyson Garnham said the break had come at a good time for them with a few injuries in the squad.

“It’s a much needed break,” he said. “We got some young quarterbacks and they are doing a really good job.

“It has been hard for them.”

The Vic Bowl squad which is going for a?? Straight title, sit on top and undefeated.

Garnham said they were starting to warm into the season, but know they still have a long way to go.,

“The warmer weather is coming in the next part of the season,” he said.

“We need to get used to the heat. Our fitness isn’t where it needs to be. We’ve got time to work through that and hopefully we’ll get a few people back healthy.”

The Crusaders division 2 side also sits on top with a 5-2 record. It will be the first time they will play in a separate finals series instead of combining as one team come finals.

Garnham said the side has had its challenges.

“It has been good,” he said. “We’ve had some difficulty with numbers so we’ve had a few division 1 players help them out.

“It’s more of a development league. It’s nice to be on top of the ladder and have something to play for.”

Garnham said the focus for both sides now was to push in the lead up to the end of the season.

Next week the Crusaders division 1 team faces the Warriors, while the division 2 team plays the Bendigo Dragons.

This week, the club presented jerseys to their senior players to recognise the success they’ve had in recent years.

Garnham said they were hoping they would get to wear them during the season.