By Lance Jenkinson
Yarraville Seddon’s form reversal in the Western Region Football League division 2 can be traced back to a Tuesday night in April.
The Eagles went into the season all the rage as one of the premiership fancies, but their April form was a cause for concern.
It all came to a head following a shock two-point loss to Newport.
An emergency meeting was called for April 30, three days after that loss to Newport.
It dragged on for an hour, but no topic was off limits.
Some players vented, others offered constructive criticism, but it was all done with the team’s best interests at heart.
It seemed to work for Yarraville Seddon, who have now strung together four consecutive wins.
“It’s probably the four best games we’ve played all year after the loss to Newport,” Eagles coach Vinnie Turcinovich said.
“We spoke for over an hour that night and trained for about 15 minutes.
“It was really well done with the leadership group having a chat to them and the home truths coming out with the players.
“It was about their mindset before games and thinking it was just going to happen.
“Now every game, we make sure we prepare like we’re playing a top side and we get in that zone and prepare like we want to win the game.”
Yarraville Seddon’s hunger is back.
The Eagles are attacking training sessions with vigor, arriving at games switched on and ready, and the results are showing on the scoreboard.
“We pride ourselves on our training,” Turcinovich said.
“Even with a week off [for Queen’s
Birthday], our training has been at a good standard. The leadership group make sure we drive that standard.”
Yarraville Seddon will head into its match of the round encounter with undefeated Wyndhamvale in a positive frame of mind.
The Eagles were beaten by Wyndhamvale back in round one, but Turcinovich believes his side is better prepared this time around.
Aside from the shift in mindset, the personnel will also be significantly different from the last time the two sides met.
“There’s probably 10 to 12 different players since we played Wyndhamvale in round one,” Turcinovich said.
“It’s going to be a completely different side they’re going to come across on the weekend.”
Even though it is a first versus second encounter at Yarraville Oval on Saturday, Yarraville Seddon will not change its approach or place a heightened sense of importance on the game.
The Eagles are keen to avoid a roller coaster ride of emotions, so they are approaching every game with the same desire and intensity.
“We’re going into every game preparing like it’s the most important game of the season,” Turcinovich said.
It will be the first time in years that Yarraville Seddon heads into a game as the underdogs.
Wyndhamvale has deserved its favouritism because of its hot start to life in division 2 after its demotion from the top flight.
“It’s probably the first time in two and a half years that we’re not the hunted and we’re going to be hunting them,” Turcinovich said.
Despite a relatively slow start, Yarraville Seddon is 5-2, already two more losses than it had in the whole home-and-away season last year.
