Signs of a brighter future have lit the horizon for the Melton Hockey Club through the early stages of the state league 3 season.
The club’s men’s side began its campaign knowing the focus would be on rebuilding with a young squad set to take the field in 2015.
But what they have lacked in experience they’ve more than made up for in enthusiasm.
The Mustangs collected their first win of the season in round one against OHA before competitive performances against Box Hill Whitehorse and St Bernards.
Melton coach Glenn Lawrence is rapt with the season’s start.
“The first game was a win and it really wasn’t what I was expecting off the bat.
“But we have shown we can match it and I think we will match it with at least half the competition.
“I don’t think it will be a disappointing season. I think the players will continue to develop with the more pressure that gets put on them.
“Hopefully next season we’re a better side for it.”
After three rounds, Melton is fifth on the ladder.
In another opportunity to grab a win, the Mustangs will take on the seventh-placed Swinburne this weekend.
Lawrence says his team’s aim over the next month will be to react better against attacking players.
“I think we’ve been exposed a little bit with the speed of how we move the ball and how we handle the pressure of an experienced player who’s tackling,” he said.
“We’re going to look at how we are holding the ball, riding the attack and trying to not panic.
“We will work on that over the next couple of weeks and try to develop a little bit more resilience to the attacking player.
“We’ll try and get the ball moving quicker, which will bring us up to the level that we’re expected to be at in this competition.”
