Epping will be relying on its strengths, including tackling pressure and running capacity, to cope well in A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2, according to coach Greg Whitcroft.
After taking Lalor’s spot in the second tier just one month out from the season, the Blues had a tough initiation to second division with matches against Division 2 premiership hopefuls Eltham and Diamond Creek.
They were 0-2 before the Round 3 clash against Banyule at Epping Recreational Reserve following losses of 47 and 56 points in the opening two rounds, before toppling the Bears by four points in Round 3.
Whitcroft believes it is the team’s resilience and camaraderie that dragged them over the line against the Bears.
“They’re a very tight bunch of kids, they get on well and they do work well together. They’re always on the same page,” Whitcroft told NFNL.org.au.
“We had a half back line on the weekend where every player was 18 and I think we’ve got 12 under 20, so that’s the progression.
“We’re young and quick so when we get it out into space we’re quite good. We haven’t got too many guys that mark the ball because we’re not a very big side, but we do run pretty hard.
“It’s only early days and we know it’s going to be a long year so it was pretty exciting just to get a win (on Saturday).
“Everyone’s training hard and having a crack so to get a win quickly was really good for their confidence because they know they can compete and get a bit of respect from the rest of the competition.”
Showing more strength around the stoppages was one area Epping was soundly beaten in the first two weeks, with Whitcroft admitting it is all part of the adjustment to Division 2.
Epping turned the tide in Round 3. The home team held Banyule goalless in the opening term to hold a 19-point quarter time lead. Despite the intensity of the tight match thereafter – with no goals kicked in the final 10 minutes – the Blues managed to hold on for a four-point win.
“Physically we were really good. Our tackling has been fantastic from the get-go and our intent to tackle and harass on Saturday, we really tackled well and our general pressure skills were terrific,” Whitcroft said.
“They don’t mind chasing and tackling and they’re probably going to do a fair bit of it because they’re very young.
“I’m sure we’ve played Banyule six times with me coaching. We’ve won five of them by less than eight points and I’m pretty sure we’ve played St Mary’s six times and won five of them by less than a goal, so we’ve had a lot of close games and there is a lot of resilience in the group when it comes to tight matches.”
Epping has played in the past three Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 finals series. Whitcroft said the club’s decision to pounce on the Division 2 opportunity was a “strategic” one.
“We’ve got some really good young players and they want play higher too, our 18 or 19-year-old kids want to get to the highest division they can possibly go to so it’s important to retain them as well,” he said.
“People are also going to learn more playing against stronger sides. They’re going to have to get stronger, they’re going to have to get more endurance and they’re going to learn more about footy which we can see already.
“Playing against quality players and a better standard of footy every week – it can’t be a bad thing. You’re not learning if you’re beating the lower sides by 100 points and you’ll probably end up creating bad habits rather than good ones.
“You learn good habits when you’re beaten by Eltham by eight goals because it’s going to sharpen us up.”
Epping lost a host of senior players in the off-season, including leading goal kicker Aaron Willitts. But Whitcroft is ecstatic with Preston Bullants recruits Reed Jepson and Damon Marcon, who have been two of the standout players in the opening three matches.
“They haven’t really missed training and have been solid from the get go,” Whitcroft said.
“They’re still finding their feet even though they’ve been in the best players and they’ve both adjusted really well both on and off the field, fitting into the club’s culture and they’re both very popular.”
Epping will look to win its second match of the season when it travels to Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval to take on the winless Fitzroy Stars in Round 4.
