Why Bayswater coach is optimistic his side can challenge for finals

It’s a tight race for the EFL Division 1 top five, with Bayswater in the hunt despite sitting second bottom. Here’s why the coach is optimistic.

The race is on for the Eastern league Division 1 top five – and it stretches back to ninth.

Bayswater may be sitting second-bottom of the comp’s 10 sides, but its 4-7 record has it just one match and percentage outside the finals mix.

It makes up a logjam of sides vying for the five, with Wantirna South (fifth, 5-6) followed by Lilydale, Beaconsfield, Montrose and the ‘Waters all on four wins apiece, with Montrose having played an extra match.

Bayswater kept pace with a finals-bound Croydon for three quarters last weekend before the Blues kicked away in the final term to surge a game clear in third spot.

Bayswater’s Joel Galvin in action on Saturday. Picture: Hotker’s Footy Photos

Mooroolbark is undefeated from 12 starts, while East Ringwood (10-1) occupies second and Upper Ferntree Gully sits at the foot of the table, winless after 11 matches.

Bayswater senior coach Tom Roach is optimistic his group can hunt the last spot in the finals in the run home.

“We have spoken about it (finals), because we’re not that far away which is quite amazing considering we’re 4-7,” he said.

“With the comp so close, we know that if we play the brand of footy that we’ve tried to play … we’re definitely a chance to make finals – we’re not hiding away from that.

“The top two are pretty good sides, but those positions from three to nine are really close.

“I think our best footy’s definitely a chance for finals – we’re probably not up to that East Ringwood and Mooroolbark (standard), but the teams after that we can definitely match.”

The ‘Waters fell to Croydon by 35 points last Saturday after just 13 separated the pair at the final change.

Roach admitted while his charges were underwhelming, the result for three quarters remained encouraging.

“We didn’t play our best footy – our pressure was down and our inside-50 ball was average,” he said.

“We hardly scored going inside 50, but we were in the game up until three-quarter time without playing well.”

Roach highlighted midfielder Joel Galvin alongside forwards Alex Young (15 goals) and Paul Haasbroek (12) as among those to stand out this year, while Bryce Galvin is “averaging 35 disposals out of the ruck”, and Ben White continues to “rack the footy up” averaging 31 disposals.

Bayswater’s Ben White takes on a Croydon opponent last weekend. Picture: Hotker’s Footy Photos

Meanwhile, forward Josh Treeby has kicked a leading 21 majors from 10 games.

Bayswater hosts Beaconsfield (seventh) this weekend in a match which could shape the finals race. The pair last met in Round 3 with Beaconsfield prevailing by 38 points.

“We’re really setting ourselves for a big game,” Roach said.

“We played them at their home ground earlier in the year and we played OK, we had a real crack, they just used the footy really well and didn’t miss in front of goal … that was probably the main difference.

“We’re looking forward to trying to amend that loss on the weekend.”