Doutta Stars move three games clear of relegation after win over Heights

In his three years with the club, Barry Prendergast hasn’t seen Essendon Doutta Stars in the position it finds itself in. He talks the back half of the season as the recruits start to fire.

Ethan Gillard of Essendon Doutta Stars. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Essendon Doutta Stars coach Barry Prendergast believes the club is in a position it hasn’t been for some time.

The Stars sit three games clear of relegation after a 42-point win over last placed Avondale Heights on Saturday.

Since arriving at the club in 2022 and as the senior mentor for the last two years, Prendergast has seen the Stars often in the relegation battle in the second half of the season.

“It’s good to look up and not be worried about what’s behind us,” he said.

“Given the three-game gap we’ve been able to open up, we can look forward to this season and potentially start planning for next year as well.

“We haven’t had a game this year where we’ve had four or five guys over the age of 23, we’re in a position where we can keep moving forward.

“We had a couple of under-18s play on the weekend, Jesse Kirk played his second game and Josh Robertson played his first. Giving these young guys an opportunity is all part of the plan.”

Despite sitting two games out of the top-five, finals may not be out of the question for Douttas.

Beat fifth-placed Greenvale after the bye and possibilities really do start to open up.

“If we are to launch towards finals, it all starts with that game,” Prendergast said.

“It’s an exciting position for the club to be in heading towards the second half of the year.”

Essendon Doutta Stars coach Barry Prendergast. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

As part of the weekend’s game, Doutta Stars hosted a senior parents luncheon where Prendergast and football manager Nick Byrne spoke to those in attendance.

Prendergast said the function was important in continuing to grow the club environment.

“The player’s parents are the most important and significant people in our player’s lives,” he said.

“We really want them involved with the footy club, it’s all part of what we’ve set out to do.

“With such a young group, we’re looking to continue growing the connection.”

The club’s off-season recruits are also starting to make their mark.

Dylan Laurie, Liam Mercieca, Noah Weihrauch and Julian Callegari were all named among the best on the weekend.

“The new guys, we have about nine, are getting better and better,” Prendergast said.

“We played some pretty good footy in the first seven rounds and probably started to taper off in the last three to four weeks.

“Injuries started to accumulate. It’s taken a long time in relation to our scoring after we lost (Giacomo) Thomas and (Declan) Tully, they were our leading goalkickers last year.

“We were right in the game against the better sides and just couldn’t put it on the scoreboard.”