VU Western Spurs first-team coach Ian Denny has lauded his team’s resilience over the opening month of the 2021 season.
The reigning Division 1 Women’s premiers completed grading with a 2-2 record, with all four games played away from home, due to cricket finals being played on their home ground, Henry Turner Reserve.
Speaking following a 107-point win against newcomer Lower Plenty on the weekend, Denny said he was happy with the side’s performance during the grading rounds.
“We’ve been competitive in the two games we’ve lost, and they were really close in most parts of the game,” Denny told NFNL.org.au.
“We’re only going to get better because we haven’t played a lot of footy together.”
Denny signed on as coach of the Spurs at the conclusion of their 2019 premiership season – a campaign which the club went through undefeated.
He has since had to endure the cancelled 2020 season and a host of premiership stars moving on from the club.
“It’s been a tough trek for most clubs and we’re no different,” Denny said.
“We’ve had a lot of changes, but everyone is sort of getting on and we’re getting better and better.”
Only three players from the 2019 Division 1 Grand Final team, plus one joining from their opponent Diamond Creek’s Women’s, played in the weekend’s win over Lower Plenty at Montmorency Park South Oval.
“We’ve lost 80% of our team. They’ve gone to VFL, AFL or have moved on and stopped playing,” Denny said.
“Most of it has been going up to a higher level, which is awesome because we encourage that.
“But we’ve had to put together a team with a very small base.”
The new campaign has been made even tougher with the team unable to play at their home ground, Henry Turner Reserve, during the first month of the season.
“We’ve played all our grading games away and we haven’t had a home game yet due to the cricket season. It’s been tough but the girls are pretty resilient,” Denny said.
With almost an entirely new group representing the club this year, Denny said the team’s focus would purely be on a week-to-week basis – rather than setting huge ambitions in their premiership defence.
“I don’t focus on the end result,” Denny said.
“That’s what we’re all about at the moment. We’re sort of rejuvenating and regenerating the club from a really successful period.
“The girls are really enthusiastic and that’s what I like about it. They’re much more attentive than the men are and they’re really willing to learn.”
Image taken by 95 Snaps
