Wonthaggi surges into finals contention after a strong month of football

After a horror off-season compiled by three ACL injuries and the loss of two stars, Wonthaggi has found form in the back half of 2024. Coach Jarryd Blair reveals what has been key.

Jarryd Blair has helped Wonthaggi turn their season around. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Wonthaggi coach Jarryd Blair is confident the Power can still play a major part in the Gippsland league premiership race after a resurgent month which has put them back in the finals race.

The Power looked down and out of the finals race several weeks ago with the team starting 0-3 and languishing at 2-5 after seven rounds.

But Wonthaggi had other ideas and have won six of its past seven to be 9-7 and in fifth spot.

The side moved into the finals spots after smashing Bairnsdale, who fell out, by 79 points.

Finals destiny is in their hands as the side looks to make the grand final again, after finishing runners up to Leongatha last year.

“We’re not getting carried away with ourselves,” Blair said about the form.

“We’ve been enjoying what we have been doing and the form the boys have pulled out.”

So what has been behind the turnaround?

Blair said a raft of changes in the off-season hurt the club at the start.

Cooper McInnes has been one of the best players for Wonthaggi this season, kicking 41 goals. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Wonthaggi lost Kyle Reid late last year to an ACL injury and had three other players suffer the same fate in the off-season.

The Power also lost Jack Hutchinson and Ryan Sparkes to the VFL with the former now playing for West Coast.

Other losses, while picking up their own players, saw the Power start the year completely different to their grand final team.

“We had guys coming and going (early),” Blair said.

“I think the first three weeks we had 12 or 13 debutants. it was a change in personal.

“A lot of those guys have settled into the side and got six to 10 games under their belt.”

Blair said results at the start of the year didn’t reflect how good the team was playing.

But he conceded the past month and a half has come as a result of the new players finding their feet in the competition.

“At the start of the year we didn’t have the runs on the board but it felt like we were playing reasonable footy,” he said.

“In the back half of the year we added a little bit of finish and put some scoreline pressure on the opposition.

“It’s been a confidence thing, the individual confidence has grown, which has led to the team being more confident and blokes playing better footy.”

Blair said the next two weeks would be key to sealing a finals spot and after that the team was capable, as anyone, of doing some damage in the finals race.

The run from the Power has seen them beat two of the other finalists while losing to Moe and Leongatha in close contests.

“It’s an even competition and if you don’t turn up against any side you get found out,” Blair said.

“We’re looking to knuckle down and play finals.

“The aim is to build form in the next two games and see how things play out.

“This year the grand finalists and premiership can come from anyone in the top-five.”

The Gippsland league has a bye this weekend before Power plays Drouin on August 17.