EFL 2019: Rowville looking to recapture best form

Rowville has spent the majority of the EFL Premier Division season inside the top three but the Hawks are facing the prospect of an elimination final after just one win in the past month.

Rowville coach John Brown. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Rowville will attempt to get some momentum back in its season when it resumes from the Premier Division split-round bye this weekend.

The Hawks have dropped three of their past four games and are staring at the prospect of a cutthroat final against either Norwood or South Croydon in the first weekend of finals.

Rowville’s only win in the past month has been against lowly Doncaster and it sits one game outside the top three after losses against South Croydon, Balwyn and Norwood.

MORE EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS

MULGRAVE AIMING TO RECRUIT TO BOOST POINTS AVERAGE

UPPER GULLY CONTINUES TO RECOVER FROM 1-6 START

MITCHAM SENDS MESSAGE TO DIVISION 2 FINALS RIVALS

THE STAT THAT COULD DEFINE SHARKS’ SEASON

SILVAN KEEPS ITS FINALS HOPES ALIVE

Rowville coach John Brown said his side would have to win each of its remaining games to finish with the finals double chance.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a flat spot, we’ve come up against a team that’s in good form in Norwood and Balwyn the week before that,” Brown said.

“We’re 9-5 but we’ve come off a fortnight of some tough footy.

“The bye has come at a good time just to mentally and physically freshen up and we get the ability to have a break and we’ve got a few players returning for the last four rounds of the season, which will certainly add some depth to our squad.”

Key-position player Mitch Garner, fullback Mason Crozier and defender Bailey Morrish will be important inclusions for the Round 15 clash against Vermont.

Best and fairest winner Jackson McDonald remains a fortnight away from returning.

Mitch Garner is set to return for his first game since Round 3. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Rowville inflicted Vermont’s only defeat of the season in Round 6 and the Hawks will need to repeat the dose when the two meet on Saturday.

“We faced the same prospect earlier in the year when we lost to Balwyn and Norwood back-to-back and came out and knocked Vermont off,” Brown said.

“There’s a good mindset among the boys that we’re capable of doing it.”

Rowville has also struggled to score over the past month — it has averaged just 48 points per game in its past four matches.

Ziggie Alwan, with 22 majors, is the only Hawks player to have kicked more than 20 goals this year.

“It’s quite easy to look that we haven’t been scoring goals and say, ‘What’s the forward line doing?’” Brown said.

“It’s a little bit more to do with our ball movement across the ground, out of our backline and through the midfield group.

“Our kicking forward hasn’t been great but in saying that, our forwards need to work hard with a little bit more pressure and locking the ball in, which has been slightly off over the last fortnight.”

WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO

— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.

— Unprecedented AFL coverage.

— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.

— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.

— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.