Another win for Keilor but Blues are not taking about EDFL finals just yet, says coach Mick McGuane

THEY might be sitting pretty in third spot on the ladder, but Keilor coach Mick McGuane says the F-word is not being bandied around the rooms at Keilor Reserve just yet.

THEY might be sitting pretty in third spot on the ladder, but Keilor coach Mick McGuane says the F-word is not being bandied around the rooms at Keilor Reserve just yet.

The Blues picked up their ninth win of the season on Saturday over Essendon Doutta Stars by 41 points, 13.12 (90) to 6.13 (49), to retain their buffer inside the top-four with just five rounds remaining.

But McGuane said until a finals appearance was guaranteed, his side would not be discussing September, instead vowing to keep its focus only on the next match at hand.

“We just go into each encounter as if it’s our last with the view that we still haven’t cemented our spot in the top-four,” he said.

“Obviously that’s our objective, to get there, but we won’t be taking our eye off the bigger picture and that’s the next game we play. So we’ll concentrate on Pascoe Vale and travel to their ground in the pursuit of getting four points next week just like they’ll be doing in terms of trying to save themselves from relegation.”

The weekend’s comfortable win over the bottom-placed Stars came after an even first half at Keilor Reserve.

The home side held just a two-point lead at the first change which they extended to 10 points at half-time before the rain went away and the game opened up, the Blues going on to boot eight of the last 10 goals of the game in the second half.

“There was a fair bit of rain that came down so it was about who would take their chances early with the limited opportunities both clubs had,” McGuane said.

“But as the game opened up after half time particularly with no rain, to kick eight goals to two in the last half was quite compelling.”

Keilor’s ball movement going forward was what separated it from the Stars in the end while the visitors’ also struggled to take their opportunities in front of the big sticks which led to the scoreboard blowout.

McGuane said midfielder Kane Barbuto — who tried his luck at VFL level the past two years with Werribee but has come back into the fold with the Blues this season — was best on ground “by a street”, while Leigh Burke and Jamie Papalia were others to impress.

Keilor has a bye this weekend due to a split round in the Essendon District Football League Premier Division.