SFNL: Port Melbourne coach Justin Taylor hopeful his side can ‘build momentum’ after first win in seven games

Port Melbourne Colts coach Justin Taylor is optimistic after his side’s first win in seven games. Find out why.

Port Melbourne Colts’ Justin Taylor in action. Picture: Valeriu Campan.

There’s light at the end of the tunnel for Port Melbourne.

The Colts had been battling a lengthy injury list and key absences as they slumped to six consecutive Southern Division 1 defeats, but returned to the winner’s list for the first time since round 1 after claiming an eight-point win over East Brighton.

“We’re just hoping to build momentum now,” Port Melbourne’s player-coach Justin Taylor said.

“With all those injuries training’s down, with the numbers coming back training’s competitive again, we just haven’t been able to do that week on week.

“On Saturdays we can play at a higher level (now), we’re hoping to build momentum and definitely get a few wins on the board anyway.”

At the height of their injury woes, the Colts were missing up to 10 senior players, including prized recruit Robbie McComb, who has missed the past month with a hamstring injury but is in the frame to return this week against the undefeated Dingley.

Fellow ex-Bulldog Charlie Clarke had also been absent for the past two matches after he was called up to Port Melbourne’s VFL side, but returned against the Vampires given the Borough had the bye.

Jason and Charlie Clarke at Port Melbourne Colts.

“You lose two of your top liners, it’s going to hurt anyone … the injuries were taken out of the top end which was always hard to cover in local footy,” Taylor added.

“(Against East Brighton) was probably our best side we’ve fielded in four or five weeks, we were pretty happy going in that we had enough winners across each line to get the result at home,” Taylor said.

“They set up really well, we thought if we could get some fast ball movement off half back – having Charlie Clarke and Ethan Williams back in the side obviously helped – if we could just get into our forward line a bit quicker off half back we thought we’d have a chance to get into their backline.”

The Colts survived an almighty scare late in the piece after East Brighton kicked five unanswered goals in the final term and drew level, before a crucial Charlie Clarke goal sealed the win.

Alongside his cousin Mitch, the Clarkes kicked four goals each and were crucial for the Colts.

“I started them both out of the goalsquare, so there was a bit of push and shove as to who had more of the goalsquare,” Taylor joked of the pair

“They spend so much time together, they work so well together.

“They never get in each other’s way and they’re happy to work for each other. If one kicks the goal they’re pretty happy for the other one and celebrate for each other.”

Former Melbourne premiership defender Michael Hibberd was also key in Port Melbourne’s latest win. Picture: Brendan Beckett.

Ruckman Jesse Bowe, who was playing his third game after Taylor coaxed him out of retirement, was also immense.

Before round 5, Bowe had last played footy for Port Melbourne in 2021, but has stepped up in the absence of Jack Berry, who will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery on a pectoral injury.

“He was really good on the weekend, gave us first use,” Taylor said of Bowe.

“I’m pretty thankful for the big fella that he’s come on board for the rest of the year, when someone’s 6’10, it’s an attribute. He’s probably a bit bigger and a bit stronger than when he last played for us which is great.”

Michael Hibberd, Rory Lehmann and Tyler Jones were among Port Melbourne’s other key contributors in the victory, while club stalwart Jake Wood celebrated his 250th senior game.

The Colts will be met with the undefeated Dingley at 2pm this Saturday when they search for a third win of the season at Souter Reserve.