By Lance Jenkinson
While it hurt to lose the top-of-the table-clash and almost certainly give up the top ranking in the finals, Yarraville Seddon coach Vinnie Turcinovich expects the learnings that came out of the game to be beneficial for his team down the stretch of the Western Region Football League division 2 season.
What is inevitable is that the Eagles will come face-to-face with top side Wyndhamvale in the finals, so Turcinovich has great vision to trawl through from the seven-point loss at the Yarraville Oval on Saturday in order to be better prepared next time around.
“If there is a good time to lose a game, it’s probably now, three games out from finals,” he said. “Let’s reset, have a good chat about it, get back on the track and work really hard.”
It was a rare stinker of a game for Yarraville Seddon.
The Eagles barely reached 50 per cent of their potential in Turcinovich’s estimation.
Suffice to say, there is plenty to work on.
“We were miles off our best and we know that,” Turcinovich said.
“You get six inside 50s and none of them hit a target.
“To their [Wyndhamvale’s] credit, they looked like they wanted the ball a little bit more, their skills were a little bit better, they were a little bit braver.”
Turcinovich has just about conceded that Yarraville Seddon will not finish on top.
PHOTO GALLERY: Yarraville Seddon vs Wyndhamvale
The Eagles finished the day two games and percentage in arrears of Wyndhamvale.
Turcinovich is certainly not fussed because a second-placed finish will still give them a double chance in the finals.
“It would’ve been good to end up on top, but I want it to be a little bit different to last year, winning every game and losing in the big one,” he said.
“The pressure is on them and we’re going to be hunting them, rather than them hunting us.
“I think it will work to our favour.”
While it was an off day for Yarraville Seddon collectively, it did have a handful of positional winners on the day.
Jack Collins feasted on the ground balls, either claiming possession for his team or tapping it to advantage.
Jesse Varsamakis was damaging at centre half forward, finishing with three goals, while James Backway also kicked three.
Yarraville Seddon wil be eager to bounce back in a tough away clash against Point Cook Centrals at Featherbrook Reserve on Saturday.
Elsewhere in division 2, Parkside won a thriller over Newport by six points, which all but eliminates the Porters from the finals picture.
West Footscray put up a good fight before losing to Point Cook Centrals by 15.
In division 1, Spotswood led at every change en route to a 37-point win over St Albans.
The Woodsmen maintain their game and percentage break over third-placed Deer Park.
Top side Altona slaughtered Point Cook by 174 points in the most one-sided game of the round.
In division 3, Braybrook might have done irreparable damage to its finals chances with a 74-point loss to fourth-placed Tarneit, leaving it six points outside the four.
Laverton had a 67-point win over North Sunshine, led by five goals apiece from Patrick Lee and Hayden Duczek.
MORE WRFL NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/wyndhamvale-finds-new-motivation-to-keep-winning/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/tarneit-on-the-march/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/sunshine-heights-regains-form/
