EFL Division 2: Key moves spark Templestowe revival, coach reveals

Templestowe was on the ropes on Saturday before a couple of inspired moves helped turn the Division 2 match, the coach reveals.

Templestowe was on the ropes before a couple of inspired moves turned the tide.

The Dockers put The Basin to the sword by 18 points on Saturday to mark back-to-back wins following five consecutive losses in the Eastern league’s Division 2. The win followed a drought-breaking result against Boronia the previous week.

McGregor said “a couple of crucial moves” into defence from forwards Alex Brown and Mark Ferraro helped his charges clinch Saturday’s victory after a goalless opening term and a 13-point half-time deficit.

“(Brown) took probably seven or eight marks in that last quarter so that was crucial – he used it really well and picked apart their mids and wings by attacking the corridor,” McGregor said of the captain.

“I think (Ferraro) he ended up having about 18 possessions in the second half coming out of half back … that seemed to give us more forward punch.

“Our small forwards went to work which was really good and held it in. We seemed to have a lot more forward pressure in the second half in a very even spread of contributors.”

Gun midfielders Nick Batsanis and Michael Fogarty also lit it up with three goals apiece.

The coach says Michael Fogarty had been “amazing” in his first season with the club after crossing from Doncaster. Picture: Hamish Blair

But Templestowe hasn’t been spared on the injury front this season.

It’s had to battle on without a handful of its gun recruits but that hasn’t deterred the group, McGregor says.

Key names Cameron Cloke (hamstring), inside midfielder Jai Hardwick (bicep), defender Shaun McMillan (knee) and ruckman Ben Ryan (knee) have all missed most of the campaign.

It’s been a collective effort to rebound.

“The growth of our bottom six has been the difference,” McGregor said.

“Every team’s got a bottom six or seven but ours has really started to believe and grow, and that’s where the difference has been.”

McGregor pointed to his side’s 13-point loss to Ringwood in Round 5 as a turning point.

While not accepting an honourable loss, the coach says his men took plenty from the encounter.

Gun recruit Toby Ryan finished among the Dockers’ best on Saturday. Picture: Hamish Blair

“We were missing Batsanis that game and a couple of others … but an amazing amount of confidence was gathered from that,” he said.

“We had a 5am beach session the next morning – honourable losses, we don’t need them.

“To their (the players’) credit, every single one of them turned up on time.”

And there’s been none bigger this season than the inclusion of dual Doncaster East premiership captain Nick Batsanis, who’s relishing life as an assistant coach on his return to the club.

Batsanis (right) has been a revelation for the Dockers this season. Picture: Hamish Blair

“His value isn’t just on Saturdays – he gives us an amazing amount of flexibility as an assistant,” McGregor said.

“He takes the bulk of training on Tuesday, Thursday … to have someone of his experience with what he’s got in the bank it’s a great piece of mind for me.

“We think a similar way in the way we want to play footy – it’s invaluable.”

Templestowe is seventh on the ladder with a 3-5 record and takes on eighth-placed Heathmont at HE Parker Reserve in Round 9.