EFNL 2023: Nick Hallo stars as Mitcham sinks top-four rival

The Tigers have hardly put a foot wrong across the past month in the Eastern league’s Division 1, while a gun recruit has been lighting it up after returning from serious injury.

Mitcham senior coach Neil Winterton says his side may have finally “kicked into gear” following a dominant performance against a top-four rival last Saturday.

Driven by an eight-goal-to-one first half, the Tigers piled on 31 scoring shots to Wantirna South’s nine in the 12.19 (91) to 6.8 (44) rout, adding to a dominant past month.

They sit second on the Eastern league Division 1 ladder with a 9-2 record and have only lost once in their past six outings – to unbeaten ladder-leader South Belgrave.

“We were winning early on in the season without playing particularly well which I suppose is a good sign, but in our last month of footy we’ve probably kicked into gear,” Winterton said.

“Our first half (on Saturday) was probably the best half of footy that we’d put together this season so far.

“Our pressure was fantastic in that first half and our ball movement and just our attack on the footy.

“We’ve been building, we’ve won three of the last four games by over 40-odd points.”

Nick Hallo has rebounded after suffering serious facial injuries earlier this season. Picture: Field of View Photography

Front and centre in Saturday’s win was Nick Hallo, with the gun recruit turning out a best afield showing with three goals.

A key signing from The Basin ahead of this season, Hallo suffered severe facial injuries in Round 1 and missed five weeks.

He returned in Round 7 and hasn’t looked back.

“Since he’s come back in over the last four or so weeks, he’s been building and on the weekend we certainly saw what he can do for us,” Winterton said.

“He kicked three goals but it wasn’t just his ability to hit the scoreboard – he’s really hard and tough around the clinches.

“It’s a really good story … he’s had an interrupted season for us so far and we’re pretty excited about what he’s going to be able to do for us in the run home.

“If there’s one thing that he doesn’t lack, it’s courage.”

Byron Wright is among a string of Tigers due back soon. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Mitcham is set to regain a host of key names in the back half of the season including reigning best and fairest Alex Barton-Smith who is due back “for the last couple of games”, while captain Jackson Glossop, defender Riley Nicholas and mainstay Jesse Smyth aren’t far away.

Small forward Byron Wright played in reserves on the weekend and isn’t far from a return – but leading goalkicker Bailey Cowman will soon depart overseas and miss the rest of the season following the next two games.

The Tigers are away to third-placed Montrose on Saturday.