EFL Division 1: Where Mooroolbark must improve ahead of cut-throat final

The post-match address “wasn’t complimentary” as the Mustangs coach laid bare the areas of improvement for his group following a first-week finals loss in the EFL’s Division 1.

MOOROOLBARK coach Bret Lavars has implored a lift from his group following last Saturday’s upset qualifying final loss.

The Mustangs slumped to a second-consecutive defeat for just the first time this season after Mitcham ran away 40-point winners.

The result marks the first time since rounds six and seven 2021 the club has dropped back-to-back matches, with the loss following its Round 18 defeat to Wantirna South.

Mooroolbark finished second this season with a 16-2 record and spent 12 weeks on top of the ladder – including nine consecutively.

Jesse Cherry of Mitcham tackles Austin Smith of Mooroolbark last Saturday. Picture: George Salpigtidis

A “very disappointed” Lavars said a raft of home truths were delivered following Saturday’s loss, where he believed Mitcham “were a lot hungrier” as it finished with seven consecutive majors.

“It wasn’t complimentary,” Lavars said of his post-match address.

“We told a few home truths in regards to (how) we’ve probably been flirting with our form if I’m honest, since about Round 12.

“Since then we felt like we’ve let ourselves down in quite a few areas … it’s very disappointing as a coaching group that it’s gone that way.

“We’ve had some chats about it but we haven’t been able to rekindle that sort of form.

“There’s always extenuating circumstances as to why but we make no excuses – every club gets injuries along the way and ours might’ve come at the wrong time.

“No excuses, we’ve been just outplayed by some better sides – Wantirna South (in Round 18) and Mitcham (on Saturday).”

Mitcham piled on seven consecutive goals against the breeze in last weekend’s final. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The loss sets up a semi-final clash with Montrose this Sunday at Tormore Reserve, with the winner to advance to the preliminary final.

The Demons will hit the match firing off seven consecutive victories after their 11-point elimination final win over Wantirna South last weekend.

Lavars praised captain Kane Noonan’s return to action last weekend through the midfield, but believes the engine-room needs to improve.

And it’s not the only area he’s implored a lift.

“I thought our midfield group were beaten on the day and that seems to be an area we need to fix next week or we’ll find ourselves spending the rest of the finals series watching,” Lavars said.

“I don’t think we’re defending as well as we would like – I think that’s across the board. “Once it goes forward, it’s probably coming out too quick … probably down back we need to tighten up – I feel like we’re getting scored too easily against.

“It’s probably a few tweaks across these lines if I’m honest.”