EFL 2022: Whitehorse Pioneers answer coach’s challenge

From “worst showing of the year” to “massive result”, Whitehorse responded to the coach’s challenge on Saturday.

It was the response Whitehorse Pioneers coach Duncan Jones was after.

The Eastern league Division 3 club answered the challenge to defeat Scoresby by 33 points on Saturday, following its “worst showing of the year” according to Jones.

The victory lifts the Pioneers to a 4-3 record after falling eight points short of a depleted Hawks side the week before.

“It (Saturday) is a massive result for us in the context of where the season is,” Jones said.

“Last week against Glen Waverley we probably had our worst showing of the year, but that’s a credit to how Glen Waverley played and we weren’t really ready for the challenge.

“I guess maybe some complacency set in … progression isn’t linear, there’s always going to be dips. If you’re off your game by five or 10 per cent in this division, clubs are going to take full advantage of it.”

Jones said a lift in effort, intent and contested ball showed on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Jones said he “challenged the group” following the Glen Waverley match, with the main focus on “effort and intent” and contested ball heading into the weekend.

“We were looking for a positive response in regards to our effort and intent that probably wasn’t there last week,” he said.

“It was our main focus this week to do everything with proper effort and intent and address our contested ball that we’ve probably been smashed in over the last couple of weeks.

“We went through our review and you could’ve heard a pin drop with some of the examples that we brought up, and I don’t think guys wanted to feel that way again.”

The result came on a significant day for the Pioneers, as the club marked National Reconciliation Week with a special indigenous guernsey.

Spearheaded by Jones, the coach said Premier club Norwood served as the inspiration after it broke ground with an indigenous jumper last season, designed by player Jamie Bennell.

The Pioneers’ strip was designed by Whitehorse alumni James and Robert Thomson in conversation with well-known indigenous artist Rob Naylor – a proud Yuin man born and raised in Dharawal country.

The Pioneers’ indigenous guernsey. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Welcome to Country and a smoking ceremony was performed by the Wurundjeri people before the match.

“I thought that’s the direction we want to head in as a footy club,” Jones said of Norwood’s inspiration.

“I wanted to see if we had any indigenous players at the club or had played for the club, reach out to them and see if they want to be involved in helping design the jumper and putting their own personal spin on it.

“And that’s what we did – we were able to locate James and Rob Thomson – Rob played for the club about 10 years ago. We thought it would be great to bring him in and design the jumper with his father, and from there we were able to reach out to Rob Naylor who’s a well-known indigenous artist who was able to bring the jumper to life.”

Naylor explained the jumper’s significance.

“After hearing from some of the guys that were part of the club and the input they had regarding their background, I came up with this,” Naylor told AFL Victoria.

“It incorporates their culture with the totem of their mother’s country – the Yorta Yorta people of the Murray River region (also represented by the blue waters in the painting) – and their totem which is the turtle.

“Secondly the Eagle and Crow both represent the land on which the club resides and that’s the Wurundjeri people. The dot circles in the club colours represent the coming together of the community to support and watch the club play football.”

The Whitehorse Pioneers in the indigenous guernsey on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Forward Andrew Padbury stood out in the 10.13 (73) to 4.16 (40) victory with three goals in a best afield performance playing further up the field according to Jones. Padbury’s presence was complemented by four goals to Daniel Horvat, while young gun Harry Hogan lit it up through the midfield.

Scoresby’s Dale Hehir finished among the ‘Pies best with two majors.

The Whitehorse Pioneers take on Ferntree Gully at Wally Tew Reserve this weekend.