Murrumbeena coach Liam Wilson is pleased with his side going under the radar

Murrumbeena coach Liam Wilson is satisfied with his group being dubbed the underdogs but is confident the competition is beginning to take notice.

Murrumbeena coach Liam Wilson is embracing the underdog title as his side pursues a Southern league Division 2 finals berth.

Despite being one of the inform teams in the competition – winning its sixth consecutive match 20.16 (136) to 11.15 (81) over Highett on Saturday – the Lions are yet to become the talk of the town.

Instead, the undefeated East Brighton is earning all the plaudits, much to the satisfaction of coach Wilson.

“Last year we were that hunted team but I love to be the underdog,” he said.

“It’s nice to have the pressure on East Brighton and I think teams haven’t noticed us for quite some time but I think teams are starting to understand that we aren’t here for giggles – we are here to have a decent crack at it.

“It’s always hard the first time around, teams not knowing you and you not knowing teams, but I think the second time, the teams will know us a bit better.”

Murrumbeena put Highett to the sword on Saturday. Pictures: FACEBOOK

Murrumbeena played the three other sides that currently sit in the top four inside the first five rounds of the season, walking away with a 2-1 record.

Wilson said starting 2023 off with the best teams in the competition installed belief in his group, who is beginning to connect as a unit.

“We got thrown in the deep end quite early, playing the best teams, so you had to stand up to the pressure,” he said.

“To the boys’ credit, they have found a way to win, teams keep on coming back at us but the boys keep finding a way.

“We’re kicking our goals now, we weren’t putting the pressure on the scoreboard but in the last two games we have kicked 42 goals – it has all started to come together.

“I keep on reminding the boys that we are still learning each other and improving.

“We keep on improving our flaws we have had in our game and we have a lot on the injury list from key players.

“We are still learning each other but we are starting to click now.”

Murrumbeena sing the song.

Beena has fifth-placed East Malvern this week and Skye after the Kings Birthday break before taking on the Vampires again in Round 10.

Wilson said he learned a lot from the Round 1 clash with East Brighton and has warned his side that another 15-minute lapse will deem a similar result.

“I think they (East Brighton) are really smart at the stoppage, they change their stoppage tactics quite easily,” he said.

“We have to be a bit better at the stoppage because you can’t afford to let them get it down to their big forwards easily, otherwise they will make you pay, which they did in the last quarter.

“We have to be accountable for fur quarters rather than three quarters because if you give them 15 minutes of what they had against us in the last quarter, they banged on six goals, they’re very dangerous.”

Doveton, meanwhile, has also hit form, defeating Caulfield Bears 15.9 (99) to 8.4 (52).

Former Dee and Magpie Lynden Dunn remains on the sidelines for the Bears, who are now in seventh position.

East Malvern spearhead Isaac Morrisby dethroned Tom Lamb at the top of the goal kicking charts with a bag of seven in his side’s 20.17 (137) to 5.8 (38) win over Black Rock.

Morrisby now has 30 majors in seven matches while Lamb has 29.

Hampton Park won a shootout with Skye, 19.17 (131) to 15.10 (100), and East Brighton defeated Keysborough 10.6 (66) to 3.2 (20).