EFL 2018: Waverley Blues looking to avoid second relegation in as many years after weekend’s loss to Templestowe
WAVERLEY Blues coach Bryce McGain concedes his side’s season is “precariously placed” as it looks to avoid consecutive relegations.
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WAVERLEY Blues coach Bryce McGain concedes his side’s season is “precariously placed” as it looks to avoid relegation in consecutive seasons.
The Blues went from kicking their highest score in more than a decade in Round 12 to booting the second lowest score in club history in Saturday’s loss to Templestowe.
Waverley went from kicking 28 goals against Chirnside Park but managed just 2.7 (19) against Templestowe to leave the Blues with a 6-7 record and needing to make up a game on the Dockers to avoid relegation from Division 3.
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Waverley and a resurgent Templestowe are two of the clubs fighting to avoid relegation, with The Basin holding down fifth position.
Waverley was axed from Division 2 last year but could drop to the fourth tier in 2019, with six teams to be demoted from Division 3 as part of the Eastern Football League restructure.
“We’ve played nine under-19s and we’ve played them for a considerable amount of games so most of them have player four, five, six, seven games,” McGain said.
“There is a lot of good learning, we’re probably just missing some key senior players who have been out with long-term injuries.
“We were looking for that stability from those older guys but it has just been a young group that are developing all together, so it’s positive for the future but it does put us in a bit of a precarious position now with five rounds to go.
“We need to finish off really strong and fight tooth and nail to stay where we want to continue playing football.”
The Blues will be hoping to regain the midfield duo of Jake Twycross and Ben Walker after this weekend’s bye.
“It is split right down the middle with the relegation and Templestowe got the upper hand on the weekend but there is five rounds to go and we won’t just be letting it happen,” McGain said.
“We’re still really positive, the culture is really strong and we’re looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead in us winning more games and staying up in the division.”
Waverley’s next game will be against Scoresby on July 21.
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