SFNL: How Hampton Park’s next month will decide its Division 2 destiny
Hampton Park coach Hayden Stanton understands the importance of Saturday’s tight win but says the next month will determine his side’s future.
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Hampton Park coach Hayden Stanton says his players “understand the enormity of the next three weeks”.
The Redbacks clinched a crucial win over Endeavour Hills on Saturday, 4.13 (37) to 4.10 (34), to maintain their eight-point buffer inside the Division 2 top five.
A loss would’ve created just a four-point gap between Hampton Park (fifth) and seventh.
The Redbacks, who are down 10 of their best 22 according to coach Stanton, aren’t hiding away from the importance of the run home as they chase another finals tilt.
“Although you look at the result and think ‘oh it looks like an ordinary game’ and it wasn’t a great game to watch, but the fact we were still able to win was important,” he said.
“We’ve got St Kilda City at home, we think it’s a winnable game but no games when you’re down personnel are easy.
“Then we’ve got games against Highett, Caulfield and then the last two against Keysborough and Murrumbeena.
“If we win three of those five, we should end up somewhere between third to fifth.”
Stanton’s side knocked off Doveton earlier in the year, which then defeated Murrumbeena a weekend ago.
He believes the competition is far more even than it was last year with “a blanket” over a selection of contenders.
“I personally don’t see anyone in our division like East Brighton were last year, I think Murrumbeena if all things are working them and Doveton have the most fire power,” he said.
“Matt Clarke has made a significant difference to Doveton and when you have (Steve) Toolongs and (Todd) Elton at Murrumbeena, they’re hard to stop.
“They’re certainly the benchmark but then I think you could put a blanket over us, East Malvern and Caulfield as the next contenders.
“It just depends where we fall in line when we do.”
The Redbacks played in September last year but fell to an inspired Highett in an elimination final.
Stanton remains confident of another finals berth for his team, as they eagerly await the return of injured and overseas players.
“I think from our perspective we had a really poor pre-season with numbers and personnel but we have been able to get going,” he said.
“We think there’s a good opportunity to be in that fifth to third bracket depending on how other results go over the next four to five weeks.
“If we can get ourselves into a position to get a double chance then great but the way the draw is set up, we will more than likely finish fourth or fifth.
“It really depends on how many we get back, what that looks like in shaping a team and how healthy we are at that time of the year.”
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