EFL 2019: Mitcham enjoys unbeaten start to the Eastern Football League season
Mitcham has emerged as an early beneficiary of the Eastern Football League restructure after an unbeaten start to the Eastern Football League season.
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Mitcham has emerged as an early beneficiary of the Eastern Football League restructure after an unbeaten start to the season.
The Tigers were one of two teams relegated from Division 1 last year as part of the competition’s move to a five-tier model.
They had finished in the bottom two in the three seasons since their 2015 Division 2 premiership but have taken two scalps to start the year.
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Mitcham has accounted for Scoresby and Ringwood — two finalists from last year — in the opening two games to suggest it will be a team to beat this year.
Coach Neil Winterton said the early wins had given his side a confidence boost after three lean seasons that produced just 15 wins.
“I think we’ll go ahead in leaps and bounds now the confidence is up and the players are able to believe they’re good enough,” Winterton said.
“I think that was the issue last year, just that self-belief. When we were challenged we didn’t believe that we were good enough to respond but now we know we are, that will make us a much better team and obviously make these young kids much better players.”
Recruit Connor O’Sullivan is also close to his Mitcham debut and shapes as a big boost in second half of the year after a limited pre-season.
The ruckman missed most of last season at Norwood after suffering a serious leg injury in Round 9.
Winterton said the early victories had lifted the mood in the group.
“Just talking to some of the players, they’ve mentioned there is just a much better feel this year,” he said.
“There were probably times last year where the opposition would get on top and we wouldn’t be able to respond.
“We didn’t know how tough it was going to be but we’re obviously pretty happy. It’s obviously a tight competition so if you can bank some early wins it will be really beneficial.”
Mitcham hosts Heathmont at Walker Park in Round 3.
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