Banyule coach Pete Davey says his side will not be overwhelmed by any opponent it faces in A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 this season.
After winning the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 premiership in 2017, the Bears went into this season confident they could match it with the best and have produced a strong opening fortnight to back up their belief.
The Bears romped to a 78-point win over Watsonia in Round 1, before gallantly falling 19 points short of former Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 side and flag favourite Eltham on Saturday.
“We’re not going to be in awe of anyone that we play against,” Davey told NFNL.org.au.
“We expected to win (in Round 2). It was our home ground and we hadn’t lost at home for a couple of years.
“Regardless of who the opponents were, our plans were to win the game and I think our plans that we did have in place served us well for three quarters. Anyone’s beatable.”
Banyule held the lead for plenty of the Round 2 contest against Eltham at R.J. Brockwell Oval, but let an eight-point three-quarter time lead slip after conceding six goals in the finals term.
Davey said his side received first-hand experience of what happens when you fail to execute a plan for four quarters.
“We were probably a little bit reactive early, expecting that they were a good side,” he said.
“But after 10 minutes that belief changed a little bit. We won a few tight contests, we got a couple of goals on the board and the guys actually stepped up and said ‘you know we can actually play this level of football’.
“Take the last quarter out and there are so many positives that we will take from it, but we just let ourselves down with one poor quarter and that was the difference in the end.
“Good sides just don’t let you drop off like that, especially sides coming down from Division 1.”
Davey noted the increased pace of the game as the biggest aspect his side has had to adjust to following its promotion to second division.
“It’s certainly different football,” he said.
“Just the speed of the footy and the mistakes that you make – the result is usually a score the other way. It’s been great though, it’s what we expected and what we hoped for.
“It’s certainly a much different style and speed of footy.”
After spending three seasons in the NFNL’s third tier after crossing from the Victorian Amateur Football Association at the conclusion of 2014, the Bears have made a promising start to their Division 2 stint.
Davey spoke of the importance of getting the first win on the board and believed the Round 1 result meant more than just four points.
“On Saturday night after the (Watsonia) game, it was unreal,” he said.
“We had a lot of players and supporters staying back until just after midnight and just to celebrate the first win there really gave a good buzz around the place.”
Davey has admired the maturity levels shown by his squad over the first two rounds, saying the way they have conducted themselves around the club and embraced improved training and recovery habits has been a massive leap taken from last year.
The Bears coach credits much of the improved work ethic to former Essendon star Brent Stanton, who has made a huge impact in the first two games back at his junior club.
Davey believes Stanton’s leadership has been his biggest influence since returning to the club following a 255-game AFL career with the Bombers.
“I’ve spoken to some of our committee – I’ve actually spoken to Brent as well about it – we won’t improve as a footy club if he’s winning games off his own boot,” Davey said.
“He’s spent probably 30 per cent in the midfield so far and has been playing a lot back and forward, just doing a lot of coaching out on the ground.
“I’ve already seen with some of our younger guys that their positioning and their decision making when they’ve got the footy has improved ten-fold when (Stanton) is out there giving directions.
“That’s my plan for him is to be out there as another coach on the ground, and use his direction as opposed to him getting in there and getting 45 kicks.
“His attitude is fantastic and all the guys get along with him.”
Banyule will be on the hunt for its second win of the season when it travels to Epping Recreational Reserve on Saturday to take on former Division 3 rival Epping.
