EFNL 2021: Why Panthers have an eye on second-half of season

Coach David Jensen weighs in on the health of the list, his new-look forward line, improvement, and why a club great may be in the mix for a comeback.

Surrey Park’s win on the weekend landed it a game clear in third. Picture: Surrey Park FC

Surrey Park has established itself in the top-four – but senior coach David Jensen says it’s all been a learning experience for his new-look side.

The Panthers sit a game clear in third spot, bouncing back on Saturday defeating Chirnside Park by 12 points, following consecutive heavy defeats to current top-two outfits Forest Hill (40 points) and Coldstream (57 points).

With a 4-2 record, Jensen acknowledged there was still much improvement to be made as his charges look to make up the difference on the top two.

“We’re reasonably happy,” Jensen said.

“What we’ve spoken to the players about is we’ll get to that part of the year where we’ll have played everybody once and then see where we sit, and then have a look when we’ve played everybody twice and reassess again.

“We fell away after half time (against Forest Hill and Coldstream) and with us and Coldstream, it (the difference) was fitness.

“When the pressure came on and the fitness factor hit in, we went back to old habits. I won’t talk too specifically, but from the coaches’ box it’s pretty easy to see what we need to fix.

“I can see where we need to get better.”

The Panthers’ Harry Lacchiana takes a kick. Picture: Surrey Park FC

Jensen credited his side’s resolve on the weekend after it battled on with two less players, following injuries to hard-at-it on-baller Tom Spangaro (broken collarbone) and forward John Van Twest (shoulder ligament) before half-time.

Jensen rued that Spangaro would “probably miss the season”, while he was “hopeful” Van Twest could return late in the campaign.

The pair add to a growing injury list this season, which includes young gun Hamish Burrill (hip) who the coach is hopeful of regaining this week, Sam Naidu (broken finger) who’s slated for a return next week, while Jara Oburu (ankle injury sustained in Round 2) is “close to coming back”.

And ruckmen Callum Ternes and Logan Deschepper have returned from previous knee issues.

“We’re ripping through our midfielders … we’re battling injuries but we’ve got a lot of players at the club so we’ll cover them,” Jensen said.

Meanwhile, the new-look forward set-up following the departure of gun spearhead Chris Smith ahead of the season has impressed.

Mathew Pollock (19 goals, including a leading four in the weekend’s win) and Harry Lacchiana (11) lead the charge, while George Haynes, Van Twest and Mitch Molnar have all booted nine majors to date.

“The forward line we’ve set up a systems-based forward line and it really clicked in for the first time on the weekend against Chirnside – I was really rapt with how it went,” Jensen said.

“We’ve found a beauty too in Mitch Molnar who’s been a mid/forward … and we’ve got multiple avenues to goal.”

Mathew Pollock leads the Panthers’ goalkicking. Picture: Surrey Park FC

And there might be a familiar name rejoining the set-up this season.

Club great Michael Paolini, who retired following the 2019 season, has played the last two matches in the reserves – and booted three in each.

While Jensen said the club “haven’t put a time frame” on when or if the big man would make a comeback this season, both parties have agreed that he’s “got to do the yards before he gets a game”.

Paolini currently also serves as an assistant coach to Jensen.

“He’s been brilliant in the coaches’ box too – he’s going to be a great coach,” Jensen said.

Boom recruit and former Nunawading skipper Jordan Winter stood out in defence in the weekend’s clash according to Jensen.

“Under his own admission he’s finding his feet with the way we play and our methods, but having said that, he played his best game on Saturday and was really good – we’re playing him in the backline,” Jensen said.

“We’re hoping we’re a second-half-of-the-year team – we want to be playing our best footy when it’s important. We’re on a journey of learning where we sit right now, and he’s part of that.”