THE IMPROVEMENT of Greensborough’s middle-tier players has been the major catalyst for the club’s rapid ascension into a Division 1 premiership contender, according to coach Robert Hyde.
The Boro sit first on the Division 1 ladder at the Queen’s Birthday break, having won seven of their opening matches in 2014.
The club’s quick rise has surprised many following an eighth-place finish last year – Hyde’s return season to the club – where the Boro won just two matches after Round 7.
Amongst the Boro’s big scalps this season are 2013 grand finalists Montmorency and Bundoora, as well as third-placed West Preston-Lakeside – whose Round 3 loss to the Boro remains its only home loss for the year.
Speaking on the eve of Greensborough’s top of the table clash with Heidelberg, Hyde said the improvement made by a number of the club’s lesser likes had attributed to its big jump up the ladder.
“I think that’s the key to it, the kids that are now on the way to 22, 23, 24-years-old have all improved,” Hyde said.
“Brent Ryan is a tall athletic kid and he was in our best players five times out of the first seven games.
“(Jason) Rogers is another one and he’s been outstanding. He’s 25 and is second on our goal kicking as a forward-mid.
“Those guys have all come to the fore, like the Scott Contes.”
Having identified the club’s deficiencies in 2013, Hyde said Greensborough had also been specific with its recruiting during pre-season.
During the summer months the club was able to lure defender Daniel McLinden from Rochester, along with Oak Park ruckman Michael Hooper and Bundoora forward Andrew Stellas. All three have played important roles during the opening two months of the season.
McLinden has formed a key part of the club’s formidable defence alongside Nick Riddle, Matthew Hyde and Drew Wilson. Hooper has assumed first-ruck duties with aplomb, while Stellas has booted 12 goals and worked as a good foil to competition leading goal kicker Tim Bongetti.
A quick look at some key stats indicate why the Boro sit atop the ladder.
They rank first for points scored with an average of 109 points per game, and have conceded the second-least points in the competition behind Heidelberg, at an average of just 66 points per game.
It equates to a 7-1 win-loss ratio and a supreme percentage of 165.65, more than 30 per cent healthier than any club in the league. The healthy percentage may prove a factor later in the season when competition heats up for places inside the top five in a very even Division 1 season.
Hyde said the challenge for his side was to now maintain its current form heading into the second half of the season.
“We were hoping to be competitive enough to play finals and, saying that, we still are,” he said.
“We’re nearly half way and we’ve certainly made a good start. The evenness of the whole comp is exciting but it puts everyone under the hammer.
“Last year we fell away. I looked at it and after Round 6 we had the second best points against in the competition and then just lost the plot.
“That’s the challenge for this group because when you play say Mont and Bundoora away they’ll all be thinking ‘we’ve got to take this mob seriously and play and prepare really well against them’.”
Hyde said the week’s break had come at a good time for his side, allowing a number of bruised and battered players to rest their bodies for the second half of the season.
He said his side was looking forward to hosting Heidelberg in Round 9, where the Tigers will be looking to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season to Montmorency last weekend.
With just percentage separating the sides, the winner of the clash will assume a four-point lead at the top of the ladder.
Hyde said he has been impressed with what Heidelberg has delivered under new coach Craig Hunter this season.
“When I looked at their list at the start of the year, like most people did, you’d think they wouldn’t be as strong as they were,” he said.
“They’re a great story.”
