EFNL Division 4 2023: Croydon North-MLOC snaps year-long losing streak

Croydon North-MLOC wasn’t to be denied as it stormed to a long-awaited victory in the Eastern league’s Division 4 on Saturday. Here’s how the Kanga-Rams did it ...

Senior coach Ben Oakes describes it as a relief.

Croydon North-MLOC stormed to a drought-breaking victory on Saturday in the Eastern league’s Division 4 with a 14.16 (100) to 11.15 (81) win over Nunawading.

It’s the club’s first senior victory since July 30 last year, when it defeated Nunawading by 47 points in Round 16.

Oakes believed his side had been edging closer to breaking through in the past month, after the club was hit by a heavy injury toll earlier this season.

‘Join in the chorus’: the Kanga-Rams belt out the song on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

“It was probably a sense of relief,” he said.

“The boys were pretty excited they got a win – unfortunately we started the year off with a heavy injury list and it (a win) hasn’t come until now.

“We’ve played 48 players through our senior side, and that number alone just shows the injury list.

“Everyone was relieved … we’ve played pretty good footy over the last five weeks because we’re getting pretty healthy.

“There was definitely jubilation there at the end … I think every win, no matter what it is, you celebrate, because you’re down and out when you get a loss and we’ve had a few of them this year.”

Zac Leacy has been one of a long line of injured key players. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Kanga-Rams held a six-point lead at half-time before extending the margin to 21 at the final change.

Despite a Nunawading charge in the third term, Oakes said his players weren’t to be denied on the way to their first win in 15 starts this year.

“We’ve focused on sticking to our structures and playing the way we want to play regardless of how the game’s trending,” Oakes said.

“If they stick to that and do that, no matter the ebbs and flows of the game, it puts us in good stead and they did that in the third quarter.

“They (Nunawading) kicked the first two in the third and for us to be able to stem it and build that lead going into three-quarter time is a real credit to the group itself.”

Oakes lauded the back six in stifling the opposition attack – especially Lions’ spearhead Konrad Bendrups, whose influence was limited by Ryan Kelly and Michael Peart.

Meanwhile, Jacob Crowe finished with 4.2, presenting well alongside fellow forward Lachie Poli, as ruckman Adam O’Donohue provided plenty according to the coach.

“He’s (Bendrups) third in the goalkicking (in Division 4) … just that effort from the back six was good,” Oakes said.

“Sam Currie I gave best on ground and he was one of the back six … it was pretty even from then on – they played well as a team and we didn’t have any passengers.”

The Kanga-Rams sit at the foot of the table with a 1-14 record – a game and seven per cent behind Nunawading.

A bye next weekend is followed by a final-round clash with fifth-placed Forest Hill, with the coach keen to finish the season on a high.

“We’re probably as healthy as we’re going to be now, besides season-ending injuries, and the more healthy people you have, the better your senior side’s going to be,” Oakes said.

“To have a competitive footy side, you’ve got to have a healthy list, and that’s where that third-quarter effort came in.”