Tara Murray
The next generation has been the key for Burnside Heights’ rise up the Essendon District Football League division 2 ladder.
The Bears were an unknown heading into this season having lost their best player, goalkicker Josh Covelli.
The Bears though have surprised many, but sitting third with a month left in the season.
Bears president Justin Peagram said the side was travelling fairly well.
“We’ve third with a month to go, we’ve happy about that,” he said.
“We thought that we might not have a lot of depth, but that has grown throughout the year.
“We had more kids make their debut on Saturday and a few the previous week. There’s good pressure on for spots over the next month and hopefully finals”
Peagram said they’d had about eight players make their debut and in their side on Saturday against Jacana, they had nine players 22 or under.
He said at full strength there were about seven players in that age bracket in their best side.
Peagram said they were missing about five players from their best squad against Jacana. He said all would return in the coming weeks
“Aidan Stott will have a few selection headaches,” he said.
“Last season we had five season ending injuries. We haven’t had this year and we’ve been able to improve with more guys coming on.”
Against the Jaguars on Saturday it was tough conditions.
Peagram said the wind or ‘gale’ meant it was hard kicking with it and hard kicking against it.
The Bears won 27.24 (186)-6.9 (45).
Theodore Sapountzis kicked seven goals in the win, while Habib Hosni kicked four goals and Anthony Fawcus kicked three goals.
Fawcus was named best on ground.
Peagram said Fawcus played his best game of the season and would have had close to 30 marks.
He said the side had a number of different forward options which was pleasing.
The Bears this week face Taylors Lakes. They will play them twice in the last four weeks of the season.
“We would like to win at least three of those four finals and that would put us in a good position. Third or fourth, just means what colour shorts you wear in the first final.
“We just want to play football.”
The Bears women’s side has two rounds remaining in its premier division season. They’ve had just one for the season.
Peagram said the side didn’t have the depth of some of the other sides in that competition.
“We’ve played some really good football for periods,” he said. “Our midfield and defence have been good, but we haven’t had much attack this year.
“Depth has been the biggest issue with the gap between our top eight and the bottom eight big.
“They keep giving it a crack.”
Meanwhile Hillside’s finals hopes remain alive in the division 1 men’s competition.
The Sharks beat Craigieburn 12.11 (83)-5.9 (39) on Saturday.
The Sharks sit seventh, but our just one win outside the top four.
