EFL 2022: Mooroolbark coach’s frank feedback to first defeat

Mustangs coach Bret Lavars has weighed in on his side’s first defeat in more than a year, after sliding from top spot in the EFL’s Division 1 on Saturday.

Mooroolbark senior coach Bret Lavars says Saturday’s loss is set to serve as a valuable lesson ahead of his side’s finals campaign.

The Mustangs slipped to second on the Eastern Division 1 ladder following their 18-point loss to East Ringwood, in the club’s first defeat in more than a year.

Aaron Mullett kicked four goals and featured among the best on Saturday. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Lavars said while his group’s attacking brand stood up against one of the division’s most potent defensive outfits, he conceded his midfield was soundly beaten.

“I thought the way in which we played our brand of footy was still positive,” Lavars said.

“We like to play an attacking brand ... I look for the positives in we’ve still managed to kick 14 goals and nearly score 100 points, we had some players who on the day were beaten but credit to East Ringwood who were fantastic.

“But I honestly thought our midfield got smashed, especially in that first half – I thought we really struggled to win footy which then put our backs under a lot of pressure.”

East Ringwood took control in the second term to lead by 17 points at half-time, leaving Lavars to lament ill-discipline with a number of free kicks and 25-metre penalties capitalised on by the ‘Roos.

“I felt we conceded too easily and defended quite poorly – albeit (the ball) spent a fair bit of time down there … they made the most of their opportunities,” he said.

“We lost our cool and we lost the plot, and our discipline went out the window.

“I just spoke to our boys about being able to control the controllables (sic) and I felt we let ourselves down in that area and I had to calm the group down at half-time because they were fired up, that’s for sure.”

Mooroolbark coach Bret Lavars says Saturday would provide a valuable lesson for his side ahead of the finals. Picture: Mooroolbark FC

The result brings an end to 13 consecutive wins this season and a streak of 17 overall, which stretched back to May 2021.

It’s an achievement that didn’t go unheralded after the match.

“We did discuss that afterwards as well … to think of where we’ve come from to where we are now … considering we’ve played in excess of 30 players, we haven’t had a settled line-up and we’ve found different ways to win, it has been really pleasing,” Lavars said.

“If at the start of the year you said we’d be 13-1, I’d have signed for that straight away.

“Now I suppose in some ways it takes away that constant focus of going through undefeated and hopefully the group can find some positives in the loss.”

Mooroolbark hosts Upper Ferntree Gully in Round 15.