EFNL Premier Division: Why Noble Park coach remains upbeat despite consecutive losses

Reigning premier Noble Park has lost two on the trot ahead of arguably the toughest run home of all finals contenders. But the coach remains upbeat. Here’s why.

NOBLE PARK senior coach Steve Hughes remains upbeat despite consecutive losses – and arguably the toughest run home of the Premier Division’s finals contenders.

The Bulls have lost their past two matches, going down to East Ringwood in the dying moments before a 14-point loss to Berwick on Saturday.

The reigning premiers remain inside the top six by a game and percentage ahead of a final month of matches featuring the top-three sides, with Park Orchards (10th), Rowville (second), Vermont (first) and Balwyn (third).

Jackson Casey hunts the pill for Noble Park. Picture: Valeriu Campan

But it’s not all doom and gloom according to Hughes.

“I guess the glass half-full for us is that we’re playing OK – as everyone knows it’s a pretty competitive league this year and we’ve been on the wrong side of reasonably tight games,” Hughes said.

“We had the lead against East Ringwood with three minutes to go and I thought we were excellent all day – I was really pleased with the brand of footy we played.

“Berwick was pretty disappointing as I thought we played pretty well in the first quarter – bad kicking’s bad football as they say and I think we kicked 2.5, then they probably outplayed us after half-time, in fairness.

“We’re just a smidgen off, to be honest – it’s not catastrophic with the way we’re playing.

“I’ve still got unshakeable confidence in our group, but this competition will remind you quick-smart if you’re a little bit off, and that’s what’s happened.”

Noble Park coach Steve Hughes. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Hughes said his group must address its “fluctuation in performance”, pinpointing it as his “biggest frustration”.

“We go from an excellent 30 minutes of footy to a substandard 30 minutes in the blink of an eye,” he said.

“I guess that’s the test for us, to see if we’re capable of that (consistency).

“Our last month is really challenging … we’ll find out if we’re up to it.

“If we can put some really good footy together and have some wins, that’ll hopefully book us a finals spot and give us confidence going into September, but there’s a fair bit of water to go under the bridge first.”

The Bulls are sixth on the ladder with an 8-6 record – a game and 13 per cent ahead of Blackburn – which meets the bottom-two sides in Doncaster and South Croydon in the final four weeks alongside Rowville and East Ringwood.