EFL: Mooroolbark recovers from winless opening month to win consecutive games
Mooroolbark appeared to be the easybeats of Division 1 after starting 0-4, but the Mustangs have turned their season around after consecutive victories.
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Mooroolbark has recovered from a winless opening month to the Eastern Football League Division 1 season after logging consecutive victories on Saturday.
The Mustangs started 0-4 but have since had a draw and two wins to move two premiership points clear of relegation at the halfway mark of the season.
Mooroolbark improved its record to 2-5-1 after a 13-point win over Lilydale at Heights Reserve, handing the Falcons a third consecutive defeat.
The Mustangs’ average losing margin in their first four games was 55 points, but they have since turned their season around to be just one win outside of the top five.
“Since the start of the year, it just feels like we’ve been building and building because we’ve had a fair few new faces,” captain Sean McManus said.
“We had a lot of guys leave the club at the end of last year and just having a new playing group together was going to take a bit of time for us to jell.
“Now the boys actually have a bit of belief we can rival the best teams.”
Unsurprisingly, Aaron Mullett has been one of the keys in Mooroolbark’s form turnaround.
The former North Melbourne and Carlton player has kicked 33 goals and been in the Mustangs’ best players in seven games.
“I kind of felt sorry for him when we were 0-4 at the start of the year and he was doing his bit every week,” McManus said.
“He’s been huge for us, even at training and being another leader at the club.”
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McManus, Paul Thatcher and Troy Wright have also been important players in the resurgence.
Despite the form improvement, Mooroolbark also remain in relegation contention.
After only narrowly avoiding demotion last year, it is clear of only last-placed Upper Ferntree Gully.
McManus said the club had given little thought to fighting for its place in the second tier.
He pointed out two games separates fourth to 10th.
“Obviously it’s always in the back of your mind when we hadn’t won a game … we can’t get caught up in thinking that at this stage,” he said.
“If we can get on a run from here, anything is possible as well.”
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