Hawthorn Spartans AFC suffered a big loss against the top team on the log Old Melburnians in Round 5 game last weekend, after another hard loss against Old Scotch the week before (160-34). But with the two big guns in the league out of the way, the Spartans will be keen to turn things around when they face University Blacks on Saturday, 15 May (today).
Against Old Melburnians, the Spartans faced the log leaders hamstrung by injuries to six key players. A situation that sapped the team’s response as the game progressed. Two Spartans Alex “Westy” Alagona and Clint Barnes received their debuts in this game that saw Old Melburnians come out 154 to 36 points winners .
“For two and a half quarters we were very good with around a four-goal deficit, but injuries, again, to key players with no bench saw us fatigue badly in the last quarter and lose comprehensively to a very good team,” said Spartans’ team manager George Demetriou.
“Again, we couldn’t fault the energy, spirit on display by the team but fitness and a number of players playing on limited preparation, and the injuries did not help.”
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Mr Demetriou said that conceding 20 shots on goal in the first half for the second week in a row meant.
Worthy of special mention were Jack Didier and Josh Anaf for helping to set up Jarryd Gaggin’s successful kick on goal. The combination play of Pete (Pistol) Sioronvingas, Will Cowie and Stan Neohortis to set up Daisy’s goal was also notable.
The team that won five premierships in seven years in the lower divisions were this year leapfrogged two divisions to the VAFA (Victoria Amateur Football Association) Thirds Division where they lie in sixth place just below their next opponents University Blacks who they face at 9.20am Saturday (today) at the Crawford Oval, Cartlon North.
Mr Demetriou said having already faced the top four teams in the division there is a real chance that the Spartans can prevail this weekend.