EFL: Mooroolbark slumps to seventh loss of the Division 2 season after a 50-point defeat against Park Orchards

IT ENTERED the Eastern Football League season with plenty of optimism but instead Mooroolbark finds itself in the relegation fight.

Mooroolbark coach Heath Black. Picture: Davis Harrigan

MOOROOLBARK finds itself fighting for survival in Division 2 after Mitcham’s stunning win over Doncaster East on Saturday.

The Mustangs slumped to their seventh defeat of the Eastern Football League season on Saturday after a 50-point loss to Park Orchards.

And with Mitcham pulling off an upset seven-point victory over premiership favourite Doncaster East, Mooroolbark is only clear of relegation on percentage ahead of the Tigers and in danger of dropping to the third tier for the first time since 2009.

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The Mustangs entered the season with optimism after landing a long list of recruits under first-year coach Heath Black, but instead find themselves languishing in eighth position on the ladder.

Black said his side had not developed as hoped after last year’s preliminary final appearance.

Paul Hager in action for Mooroolbark. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“We haven’t seen the natural progression from our local boys that have come through as we saw the progression of the last two years prior to me being there,” Black said.

“Using Park Orchards as the No.1, their home grown boys are just getting better and better and we’re not seeing that with our group at the moment.”

Black said the Mustangs underestimated the absence of champion forward Kire Talevski, who was diagnosed with two forms of cancer in the pre-season.

“I tell you what, on reflection and looking at it, what I have seen so far, the club, the players, he was really the heart and soul, when things got tough they turned to him and he won games off his own boot,” he said.

“He’s not there anymore so there has been a void there is no doubt.”

Black said Mooroolbark’s season had reached the point where it would either be relegated to Division 3 or it would attempt to turn its campaign around.

“I’m not here to coach Div 2, to be honest, I’m here to coach Div 1 and I’m definitely not here to coach Div 3,” he said.

“Everybody knows it that our coaching staff, and I’ll go on the record saying this, my coaches and myself would put in more hours than any other coach in Division 2.

“We’re just not getting the return, which is really sad for everybody involved on the committee, supporters and the group.”