Altona targeted a four-game cluster, starting last Saturday, to snap out of its early-season lethargy in the Bowls Victoria metro premier division.
The A’s had been winning, but not with the kind of verve skip Brett Dodd wanted.
They were in cruise mode, and Dodd recalled last season when the A’s had to play catch-up after a slow start.
“We’ve been going okay, but I don’t think we’ve set the world on fire,” he told the Weekly. “I wanted to let the boys know we’ve got a really tough month in front of us and it’s time to switch on, both on Saturday and during the week at training.
“I had a feeling that we think we’re going a bit better than we are and that it’s just going to happen … and that’s what sort of happened to us last year.”
The recalibration had an instant impact. The A’s kicked off their big month with an 84-60 win over previously undefeated Bundoora RSL at Civic Parade in a Saturday twilight game.
They were superior in three of the four rinks, with the only loss to Brenton Coad, by a single shot. Brett Foley was up six, Brad Peck up eight and Dodd up a game-high 11.
“If we play like we did today every week, we’ll be hard to beat,” Dodd said.
The A’s will hit the road for a clash with Essendon at Windy Hill. The Bombers, topped up with interstate recruits, will provide a test of the A’s’ credentials.
Meanwhile, Yarraville-Footscray remains winless after four games since its promotion to the top division. It was outclassed 89-67 by the might of Moonee Ponds away on Saturday.
Wayne Roberts was the lone rink victor for the Combine in a 25-9 hammering of Mark Jacobsen. The Combine will stay on the road for a trip to Bundoora RSL.
