By Tara Murray
Melton Thoroughbreds have set their standard for the rest of the Big V men’s division 2 competition.
It’s been a tough season for the Thoroughbreds, who have struggled to get their full team on the court.
Coach John de Jonge said it had been a tough season for them.
“It’s been difficult,” he said. “It’s getting worse week by week with players unavailable.
“We’ve got three players done for the season that have really hurt us.. We’ve had a couple of long term injuries and still getting some niggles.
“We are battling.”
While the Thoroughbreds have struggled for numbers, they’ve shown some good signs in patches.
In their last two games, the Thoroughbreds had strong second halves before falling just short.
“We ran out of legs,” he said of the losses to Collingwood and the Sherbrooke Suns.
“We could not maintain the level. We started very poorly and were down by 21 in the first half [against the Suns].
“The second half was everything that we had worked towards. The defensive intensity and making the extra pass to get the open shot.
“It got to one point with a few minutes left. I hate saying it, but it was an honourable loss.”
de Jonge said he spoke to the group after the game and said the way they played in the second half was how they wanted to play the rest of the season.
“You always get something out of the game and while it didn’t go our way, hopefully we can carry that onto the training track and try and pick up a win this weekend.
“I told them you know how to play when you put it together that is the formula, anything else you are letting yourselves down.”
de Jonge said they know finals are a long hope but will continue to focus on that aim in the back part.
The Thoroughbreds face the Wallan Panthers and Surfcoast this weekend.
de Jonge said if they make finals, anything could happen.
“With what we are gone through, it’s a feather in the cap,” he said. “Making finals, anything can happen when it’s one and done.”
“Especially for an underdog.”
In another positive for the Thoroughbreds youth league men got their first win of the season.
de Jonge said the whole club was ecstatic for the group to be able to come away with a nearly a 40 point win against Gippsland United, which had beaten them in their last game.
