Altona has put a month of travails behind it with a bullyboy win over last-placed Burwood District in Bowls Victoria metro premier division at Civic Parade on Saturday.
By no means does the 93-53 victory mask November’s three other losing efforts, but it does provide the A’s with a much-needed recalibration of their mindset.
“They’ve been struggling, Burwood, and we’ve been struggling a bit ourselves,” A’s skip Brett Dodd said.
“It was a game we had to win and, thankfully, we did.
“We’d lost the last three on the trot so confidence was pretty low … to have a big win like that can boost the confidence.”
The A’s have not performed anywhere near the expectations of a premiership contender.
They have a 4-4 split in the win-loss column, sit in sixth on the ladder and are well off the pace set by the leading sides.
“They’ve been training really well,” Dodd said. “They haven’t been doing anything wrong in the preparation – it’s just that mental thing of playing out the entire game.
“We’re playing good at the start of games and for patches, but we’re having flat spots halfway or three-quarters of the way through the game.
“You can’t afford to have a flat spot at all; you’ve got to be on your game the whole 84 ends.”
Brad Peck had a welcome return to form with a 21-shot win.
Peck had lost his previous three and was desperate to snap out of his slump.
A new addition to the Peck rink was 14-year-old Matt Young, who joined his older brother, Bryce, in the top side for the first time.
“They’re two great kids,” Dodd said. “Matt’s been a standout in the twos – you’ve got to earn a game and he’s earned it.
“Youth definitely helps him. He’s young, he’s eager and there’s big upside to him.
“He’s a kid who trains hard and has no fear.”
Brenton Coad had a massive 18-shot win.
Brett Foley snatched a two-shot victory from the jaws of defeat with a late run, while Dodd did the opposite, losing by a shot after leading all day.
The A’s know this return to form will mean little if they can’t back it up with a win over Mentone on the road on Saturday.
“We’ve dug a big hole for ourselves,” Dodd said. “We’ve got our sights set on winning every game between now and Christmas and coming back fresh after the break.”
