By Tara Murray
Caroline Springs is hoping to launch into the last couple of rounds and then into finals in Hockey Victoria Vic League women’s 2.
The Springers are already assured of a finals spot with two rounds remaining.
First-year coach Beau Kelly said it had been an up and down season.
“It’s been a tumultuous year to be honest,” he said.
“To get into finals shows a lot of determination by the group.
“We’ve struggled with player retention.
“We’ve got 15 players out across the board. We’re not running with too many numbers.”
Kelly said those missing were a mixture of injuries and others who had decided they had fallen out of love with the sport and stopped playing.
He said other players had stepped up to fill the roles.
“We’ve got a couple who started the season as second-side players who have stepped up and filled shoes.
“Jaylen Spence has taken a big step up and is still an under-age player.”
Kelly said despite the side winning the Vic League 2 title last season he hadn’t put too many expectations on the group.
He said the changes to the squad had made it hard to gauge how they would go.
The Springers have lost just two games for the year.
“I didn’t want to set a ceiling on expectations for this year,” he said.
“I really wanted to make finals. We have done that, now we shouldn’t just be aiming to make finals.
“We want to try and win it. We are good enough to beat any team.”
Caroline Springs had the bye this week, and Kelly said it had come at the perfect time.
Coming off one of their two losses, the Springers have regrouped with a tough finish to the season.
“We play PEGS who are top of the table and then we play ECHO who is around us on the ladder.
“We’ll see where we stack up.
“They won’t have any easy games against us.”
