Whittlesea coach Brad Dean hopeful Eagles can recover from winless start to Northern Football League season

Whittlesea coach Brad Dean says his side has plenty of time to resurrect its ailing Northern Football League Division 1 campaign.

Whittlesea’s Andrew Fairchild reels in a mark against West Preston-Lakeside in Northern Football League Division 1. Pics: Angie Basdekis.

WHITTLESEA coach Brad Dean says his side has shown enough against the Northern Football League’s top teams to suggest it belongs in Division 1.

The Eagles pushed Heidelberg, Macleod and Eltham earlier this season before producing a gallant 19-point loss against West Preston-Lakeside on Saturday.

The defeat left winless Whittlesea one game and percentage from safety at the foot of the ladder ahead of its crucial clash with Northcote Park on June 14.

Dean admitted the club has been “embarrassed” by heavy losses against Greensborough and Montmorency.

But he said the Eagles had drawn positives from their more competitive performances.

“We had our eyes wide open when we turned up to pre-season knowing how difficult it was, we knew there was going to be some really tough periods,” Dean said.

“I’ll be honest, I’m not sure we knew how tough it as going to be because I think the competition has improved since last time I was involved a couple of years ago.

“What’s been proven is we can have a bad 15 or 20 minutes and the game’s over.

“In Division 2 you get a chance to fight your way back because you probably don’t get hurt as much when you turn the footy over.”

Dean said his side was unable to match a relentless West Preston in the opening minutes of the second half, with the lapse ultimately costing his side a shot at its first win of 2014.

Whittlesea kicked three goals to one in the last quarter at Whittlesea Showgrounds but couldn’t overturn a 30-point deficit, going down 15.15 (105) to 13.8 (86).

In other Division 1 results, Greensborough stamped itself as a genuine contender with a 38-point win against Bundoora at War Memorial Park, while Montmorency condemned Heidelberg to its first loss of the season.

North Heidelberg remains undefeated in Division 2 after disposing of Diamond Creek by 82 points, while Mernda held off Epping by 23 points on the back of eight majors from David Hutchinson.

Lalor missed a golden opportunity to leapfrog Epping into fourth, surrendering a 19-point lead to go down by 12 points against a fast-finishing Fitzroy Stars.

Jacob Osei-Duro’s incredible 2014 season continued in Thomastown’s 120-point win against Parkside, with Division 3’s leading goalkicker snagging 12 goals.

The Bears hold a two-game buffer over Reservoir at the top of the ladder after the Mustangs had the bye.