DVCA 2019-20: Macleod confident of recovering from slow start
Macleod is winless after three rounds of the DVCA Barclay Shield season after claiming last season’s flag. Captain-coach Tim Wise explains why he expects his side to rebound.
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Macleod captain-coach Tim Wise is not pushing the panic button after a testing start to the DVCA Barclay Shield season.
Injuries and unavailability have hurt the reigning premier, which is winless and anchored to the bottom of the ladder.
The Eagles have dropped games to Rosanna and North Eltham Wanderers, while their fixture against Plenty was abandoned after rain intervened.
Macleod’s depth has been tested, with Daniel Falcke (bruised spine) and Brent Rodda (hamstring) on the sidelines, while Richard Johnson, Glen Rigg and Reid Brandt have also been absent.
But Wise said there were no excuses for the slow start.
“We haven’t been able to string together a period in any game really where we’ve been to the standard,” he said.
“We’re just a bit undermanned at the moment. We’ve got a few guys away, a few guys working, but we’ll come good. It’s certainly not panic stations at all.
“There’s a huge chunk out of our ones. But numbers have been good at the club. We’re safely fielding four sides, so that’s a real positive.
“We’re not getting wins on the board, but we could be in a lot worse position.”
With the Eagles the only team without a victory so far, Wise said there was no shortage of contenders for the ultimate prize.
“The comp’s always been really even,” he said.
“You’ve got to rock up every week and be good every week to get the win.
“You’re only a partnership away from busting a game open.
“Every team has good players.”
Macleod has won two of the past three premierships and hammered previously undefeated Diamond Creek by 147 runs in last season’s decider.