EFL 2019: Croydon North-MLOC on receiving end of beltings in the Eastern Football League

Croydon North-Mt Lilydale Old Collegians has endured four triple-figure beltings in its first year in the EFL but remains committed to the competition.

Max Hampton looks for options for Croydon North-MLOC. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Croydon North-Mt Lilydale Old Collegians has endured a torrid start to life in the Eastern Football League but remains committed to the competition.

The Rams last year crossed from the seventh tier of the VAFA to become the EFL’s 45th club, but they have been fodder for their Division 4 opponents.

Croydon North-MLOC has copped four triple-figure beltings in six games and its average losing margin is 111 points.

The Rams had kicked just one goal in each of their past two games before a three-point defeat against Nunawading on Saturday.

They sit at the bottom of the ladder with a percentage of 22.9.

President Graham Hewitt said he hoped the club would have been more competitive but morale remained high in the playing group.

Matthew McIlrath in action for Croydon North-MLOC. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

“We wanted to win a couple of games and be competitive,” Hewitt said.

“At the moment with injuries, luck hasn’t gone our way, but we’re still remaining strong and competitive at training.

“It’s about a journey, it’s a 50-year journey and we’re only one year into it.

“That’s where the players have been resilient with their efforts, the coaching staff is up and about and we can’t drop the ball because if we do that the club won’t be around in years to come and we want to be successful in the Eastern footy league.”

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Croydon North-MLOC has struggled against the league’s established clubs, losing to Fairpark (179 points), Forest Hill (131 points), Surrey Park (192 points) and East Burwood (239 points).

It led Kilsyth by 15 points at halftime in Round 4 before falling to a 38-point defeat.

Hewitt said there had been a significant difference between the VAFA and EFL.

“We’ve had a few players that have been down … some players thought it might have been easier than what it was but we’ve reinforced this is the premier metropolitan footy comp,” he said.

“I saw a couple of games in the VAFA to the Eastern footy league and you can’t compare the competitions or the players — the players are a different style.

“It’s a different style of footy, too — you’re playing against clubs that have been around in programs in the Eastern footy league for a long time.

“We’ve spoken to the clubs we’ve played and they’ve said we’ve just got to remain positive and upbeat and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

The Rams’ best chance for a breakthrough win could in Round 13 against Kilsyth before a return clash against Nunawading in Round 16.

“Unfortunately we’ve copped some serious injuries in the first part of the year, which hasn’t been ideal, but we still have faith in what we’re trying to do,” Hewitt said.

“We’ve had 72 people we’ve put through the books … off-field we’re very happy with how the club is looking.

“We’ve had good numbers at training, we’ve averaged anywhere between 40 and 60 people at training.
“We’ve got a veterans side, a women’s team, a netball side … on field has been disappointing but we’ve still got belief we can be competitive in the years to come.”

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