Altona is taking the positives out of a mixed Hockey Victoria men’s premier league competition so far.
The Seagulls are sitting in seventh spot after 12 rounds, having had some varied results.
Coach Greg Drake said they were tracking OK.
He said their biggest thing had been not being able to get the continuity within the squad.
“We have had a number of injuries to key players this year,” he said. “It’s been different this year.
“Despite that we’ve been able to put in enough good results and keep in the mix. We feel like we still have that opportunity to bring it together if we sneak into finals.”
The Seagulls have had to play this season without their two biggest names.
Cooper Burns and Connar Otterbach have both been based in Perth with the Kookaburras.
Both made their senior international debut in February and are currently with the Australian team in Europe for the Pro-League.
Burns scored his fourth goal in 10 games for the Kookaburras last week in the Pro-League.
Otterbach played in the first game of the two that have been played so far.
Drake said it does have an impact on their side with those two missing.
“We were immensely proud of them,” he said. “We are proud of them as people and how they represent the club.
“We want them to dowel and we want them hardly playing for us as it means they’re playing for Australia.”
Drake said there was potential for them to play a game once they returned from Europe.
While missing some of their stars, Drake said it had opened up the opportunity for some of their younger players to step up.
“Fletcher Guy is a young player who has been able to grab some games,” he said. “Hamilton Woodman was just announced in the Victorian under-18 team and we’ve been able to get games into him.
“There are benefits of having unavailabilities and it gives the opportunity for the next lot of players.”
Drake said it was tight competition this season and when they play at their best they are right in the mix. The top six teams make finals.
He said there was a big difference to last season when they claimed the minor premiership.
“We are still competitive and we’re not far off beating the top teams,” he said. “We haven’t had that continuity we had last year.”
On Sunday, the Seagulls lost to Essendon, 2-1.
Captain Andrew Scanlon scored the goal for the Seagulls.
Footscray that sits in third spot, had a 4-3 win against Doncaster on Saturday.
In the women’s premier league, the Seagulls lost to Essendon 4-0.
Meanwhile Footscray had a 2-2 draw with Doncaster.
The Seagulls women also sit in seventh spot, with Footscray sitting in ninth spot.
