Diamond Creek coach Andrew Tranqulli speaks about the club’s red-hot start to the season

The last time Diamond Creek beat Whittlesea at Whittlesea it won the premiership. Creekers coach Andrew Tranquilli speaks about the difference he sees to the last two years.

Tyler Barnes in action for Diamond Creek. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Do you believe in destiny?

Diamond Creek’s 31-point win over Whittlesea at Whittlesea Showgrounds on Saturday was the club’s first since 2005, the same year they last won a premiership.

The Creekers are a perfect six from six so far this season after claiming the NFNL Division 2 top-of-the-table clash, 9.14 (68) to 5.7 (37).

The club has an average winning margin of 66.5 points, continuing to be the top defence in the competition but has importantly boosted its offence by 20 points.

After back-to-back grand final defeats, the true test will come later in the season.

Brenton Keating in action for Diamond Creek. Picture: Andrew Batsch

However, coach Andrew Tranquilli has seen some important changes from the last two years.

“We’re a different dynamic, we’ve been able to blood some young players and give them a lot more game time,” Tranquilli said.

“They had a taste last year and they’ve grasped (the opportunity) this year.

“The old theory – we’ve improved our bottom 10 to 15, which has really complemented those that are in our top group.

“We’re comfortable we bat pretty deep, that’s one area that’s keeping us sharp.”

Diamond Creek and Whittlesea split their home-and-away series last year before the Creekers claimed the win in the preliminary final.

Knowing the club’s are likely to meet again in the business end of the campaign, Tranquilli is happy having the win.

He’s confident his team will only get better as the season progresses.

“It helps us have the four points in the bank, I’d rather have that than not,” he said.

“Whittlesea is going to be one of the sides to beat, so it was good to put our best foot forward.

Diamond Creek’s Dale Marshall gets a kick. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It’s the first time in a long time that Diamond Creek has been able to take the four points at Whittlesea, so hopefully that’s a little hurdle behind us.

“Each week we’re taking learnings still – we’re playing well don’t get me wrong – but we’ve still got a lot of areas we can improve on.

“We haven’t had a week with a settled side, we’ve had changes every week, whether that’s a result of talent league boys available or not available, VFL boys available or not available, just general form of our 19s and reserves players.

“Being able to settle in the second half of the year will be beneficial.”

Returning to the club after a season with Brisbane VFL, Ewen Macpherson has been in the Creekers’ best five times in six outings, while skipper Nathan Searl, Taj Logan, Dale Marshall and Brenton Keating have also been regular standouts.

Jacob Booth has been a dominant force through the opening six week and sits second in the Coaches’ MVP voting after a perfect 10 against the Eagles.

“I think what’s helping Jacob is he doesn’t feel he has to do it all or be the linchpin because of what I was saying – the support coming from the next wave,” Tranquilli said.

“He can focus more on his own game and team elements where required, the Michael Jordan thing if you watched the Last Dance show – we’ve got Scottie Pippin, these guys are out there, you don’t have to do it all.

“He’s taken the pressure off himself, by not feeling he has to get 30 touches, kick four goals and do 20 tackles.”

One of those young guns pushing into the senior team is Blake Hamilton.

The defender played nine senior games last season and was part of the Creekers’ Division 1 grand final team.

He made his season debut on Saturday and was among the best, shutting down dangerous forward Jaron Murphy.

“This summer Blake put in a massive pre-season for footy but he also did one of those crazy Ironman events, you swim 5km, 200 or 300km bike ride and then finish with a marathon,” Tranqulli said.

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“His fitness levels were phenomenal but his body shape changed, so we let him recover from that and he’s got his footy body back, he’s got his footy endurance back and been playing really well in the 19s.

“We thought it was a good opportunity for him, one he’s been thirsty for, and it was a terrific reward for the kid.

“He’s part of our back six, I think his match-up was (Jaron) Murphy, he had a job and did what he had to do.”

Diamond Creek will look to make it seven from seven on Saturday when it hosts Northcote Park at Coventry Oval.