EFNL 2022: Mooroolbark coach’s challenge to group following grand final thrashing

It was an 83-point belting on the biggest of stages, but the Mustangs mentor was quick to issue an ultimatum to his players ahead of the next Eastern league Division 1 season.

Mooroolbark coach Bret Lavars has laid out the challenge to his group.

The coach has implored his “distraught” charges to harness the hurt of the 83-point drubbing in Saturday’s Eastern league Division 1 decider at the hands of East Ringwood.

The Mustangs registered just 2.7 (19) against the ladder-topping ‘Roos on the biggest of stages, in stark contrast to the pair’s previous two nail-biting encounters.

Austin Smith finished one of the Mustangs’ best in the grand final. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“It was just such a disappointing way to finish after such a strong season,” Lavars said.

“The message I gave to them was ‘We can’t let this define us.’

“We need to be proud of our achievements, albeit we haven’t got the desired result.

“We focused on the fact that we’d won 18 games this year, and I believe I’ve played 36 players in the senior group, so we’ve been able to put a wealth of individuals through that.

“It’s a challenging time for our group, we just said that there’s two ways we can go – it can galvanise the group, bottle the pain and make it our driving force going forward or we fall away and decide it’s not what we want to do.

“The challenge has been laid for 2023.”

Lavars said the reality of grand final defeat began to sink in late in the third term as East Ringwood’s merciless pressure continued.

Lavars says East Ringwood’s pressure was relentless. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“I thought they were fantastic all day – clearly better and got it right on the day,” he said.

“They were elite and their pressure was too much for us to handle and it would’ve taken a very good side to get close.

“You get a feel for the game as it’s progressing … back half of that third quarter, coming into three-quarter time I probably knew the task was beyond us at that point with the way we were playing, albeit that wasn’t the message delivered (at three-quarter time).

“Definitely that last quarter you’re playing out time really to finish it up.

“I spoke to the group at three-quarter time about showing some resolve and getting a bit out of the last quarter, because this is a scoreline that’s going to be in the history books forever.

“But credit to East Ringwood, unfortunately they restricted us from doing that.”

East Ringwood will be promoted to the top division - but next year’s Division 1 premier won’t be. Picture: Davis Harrigan

There will be no promotion to the top-flight for the Division 1 premier next season, but Lavars remains upbeat.

“From my point of view, we look at it as a positive – it’s another opportunity,” he said.

“Albeit the hard part is to get back to where we were, and that’s the challenge. There’s no certainties in life to get there.

“Whichever side does win it next year, I’m sure they would love to go up, but at the same time it gives you another opportunity … I sell it as a half-full.”