Tarneit coach Max De Groot on the challenges his side has faced

Tarneit has endured a rough start to the season, losing every game by more than 100 points. The Titans coach has opened up about improving the side and his idea to help shape the future of the competition.

Tarneit are pushing on despite a tough start to the season. Picture: Andrew Batsch

Tarneit may have lost each of its six opening games by over 100 points but coach Max De Groot isn’t shying away from the challenge in front of him.

Throughout pre-season, there had been question marks over whether the Titans would be able to field two sides and they are continuing to prove the doubters wrong.

While the scoreboard might be ugly reading, the Titans are looking at the little wins. Those include the establishment of an under-18s side for the first team in several years.

In round 1, the club fielded the youngest senior side in its history.

De Groot is just looking for improvement across the board.

“If a player can come to me and say they’ve learnt from the week before or improved an area of their game I think we’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

“We’ve got guys who have never played senior footy before, they’re only just out of the under-18s. Our defenders for example are playing on guys like Jackson Viola at Sunshine Heights or Lewis Stanton at Wyndhamvale.

“It’s hard when you look at the score but by playing on those sorts of players, you are going to improve.”

One of the biggest challenges for Tarneit this season has been injuries to more experienced players.

While they have also been plagued by off-field availabilities at different points during the season.

Going forward, De Groot has proposed a potential change to Saturday footy structure which might be better suited to some players.

“We’ve seen the success of the Thirds on a Friday night, it’s become so popular among players,” he said.

“What if we played more games in Saturday twilight timeslots or even Saturday night. That way guys can go to work on a Saturday morning if they need and then still come and have a kick.

“It’s just an idea, whether it could work is another thing.”

The off-season marked major changes for the Titans as a whole including changes to the committee, a new logo and new playing jumpers.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

“The people involved love the club and they’re doing everything they can to keep improving everything every time they’re here.”