Panton Hill coach Joffa Byron said his side’s first win in over a year was a huge relief for the entire football club.
The Redbacks lost their final seven matches in the 2016 season and commenced 2017 in the same manner, beginning their campaign with a 0-12 record.
However, the Redbacks were finally able to break their long losing streak on Saturday, downing Watsonia 14.17 (101) to 7.24 (66) at Cracknell Reserve.
After a tough start to the year, Byron expressed how pleasing it was to finally get four points on the board.
“We’ve been working really hard towards it,” Byron told NFL.org.au.
“It was very pleasing. We had one of our better sides in for the year which makes it a bit easier as well.
“The win was enjoyable for the fans but more importantly for the players. I was rapt for them because there were a few guys in there who haven’t missed a game all year and have been working their tails off.
“What it meant to them and just the joy on their face was what it was about on Saturday and that’s the biggest thing I got out of it. It was fantastic.”
Panton Hill led at every break against a wayward Watsonia and was able to register its highest score of the season on the way to the 35-point win.
The result will hopefully ignite confidence into the playing group as the Redbacks are suddenly now in contention to avoid relegation, just a win behind seventh-placed Lalor.
With just five more matches remaining, the club doesn’t have long to prove it is still worthy of competing in A Plus Labour Solution Division 2 in 2018.
However, remaining matches against Watsonia and the Bloods in the final month of the year will potentially decide its fate.
“We just have to follow what we’ve instructed and focus on how we want to play the game,” Byron said.
“The results will take care of themselves.
“They’ll be the two games (Lalor and Watsonia) that we’ll target and go ‘we’re a chance if we play to the best of our ability, we can pinch those two games’.”
A host of injuries have plagued Panton Hill’s season, but it’s something, according to Byron, the club can’t use as an excuse.
“I’ve been pretty disappointed. We’ve wanted to have a much better year than what we’re having,” Byron said.
“Injuries do play a part, no doubt, but they’re excuses as well.
“We’ve had a hell of a lot of changes just about every week, but we haven’t played the type of footy that we’re able to play.”
Despite the struggles on field, Byron has been thrilled with the leadership displayed from the club’s best players.
“Our captain, Mitchell Anderson, took over the role this year and has always been a really solid contributor for us, but he’s gone to another level this year. And our vice-captain Scott Conte has really lifted.
“We got Matthew Fowler from Greensborough and he’s just been fantastic for us. His experience around the footy club but also his performances on game day have been outstanding.”
Panton Hill travels to Main Street Reserve this Saturday to take on finals contender Thomastown.
