Mitcham put the disappointment of their defeat to Templestowe behind them as they recorded a 98 point victory against Warrandyte last weekend. With only ten points separating the sides at half time, Mitcham put the game beyond doubt with a dominant final half kicking 14 unanswered goals to bring up their biggest win since defeating Wantirna Sth in round 7, 2005 by 108 points - that win was a week after inflicting a 98 point defeat upon Lilydale in round six.
“We had not tasted victory since round two and we certainly had not tasted victory like that for three or four years as a club to win by that margin,” Mitcham coach Paul Nigro said. “I think we as a group were very disappointed with last week (vs Templestowe) and we put in certain steps to rectify what went wrong. We are at the half way point, and we had a few meetings during the week to reassessed where we are at, tweaked a few things and looking at the last month we had six or seven injuries which challenged our depth … We have had a look at all the eight sides now, we know what we are up against and are up for the challenge.”
Mitcham benefited from more options to goal on the weekend with John Tymensen and James McWhinney combining well up forward for 11 goals between them. “We went in with a three prong forward line, and the two of them got a fair bit of the football, especially after half time,” Nigro said. “It was the work load from half back to the full back lines and sharing the footy, and getting into the right spots – obviously they were in the right spots and capped off the good work.”
Mitcham realises their one win for the season will see them enter the second half of the season as a team other sides think they can beat easily – but the Tigers have gained their own knowledge from the first half of the year. “Being a young side I guess we are going to have peaks and troughs and sides are obviously targeting us, and whether they see that as a game they should win, and pencil it in, we are quite happy to take them on face value,” Nigro said. “Sometimes a younger side may go into their shell a little bit, it is a confidence thing. But be have had injection over the last month to be able to get back McWhinney, and there are two or three others that have come back that have played football together, and fortunately it has been able to work, we have had a few more mature heads out there with the harder bodies and that is what we need.”
Mitcham have kicked 16 goals in the final term over the last two matches, and Nigro was asked to explain what exactly is in the oranges down at Tiger land at the final change in the last fortnight. “It is getting to know each other, and when we are playing with confidence and are up and about, our energy levels are high, and being a young group our fitness levels are pretty good,” Nigro said. “Even though we did kick seven against Templestowe, we were bitterly disappointed with our first three quarters and to show what we could do in one quarter – they took the foot off the pedal a bit too. We just focused on this week, and having seen Warrandyte in round one it was something we believed we could achieve – certainly not by that margin – but we went in believing we could win and we stuck at it in the first half, increased the tempo in the second half.”
Plenty of supporters were on hand to cheer Mitcham to their second win of the season, with coach Nigro urging them to get behind the current playing group. “There were plenty of people around the club – I have asked them all to get behind the playing group, and they have win lose or draw. We are heading in the right direction – we will have the ups and downs, but we will enjoy the moments that are good, and ride out the ones that are not so good. Hopefully we can do that not only for the next 8 weeks, but do so in the longer term as well.”
Mitcham this week face Upper Ferntree Gully, the side they recorded their first win on the season against back in round two.
Last Modified on 12/11/2008 15:11