News

LBU grit their teeth and grind out win over Heathcote

By Meg Saultry

Apr 11, 2021

IT may not have been pretty, but LBU has walked away victorious in its Heathcote District Football League season-opening contest against Heathcote.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Playing at Pigeon Park, windy conditions offered up a fairly scrappy performance from both sides.

And coupled with a long hiatus, LBU had to grin and bear it as it grinded out a 47-point win to start its 2021 campaign off in successful fashion.

Following the game, LBU coach Brodie Collins said it was fantastic to get the "monkey off the back" early in the season.

“Heathcote made it hard the way they played the game, but it was pleasing to get over the line in the end,” Collins said.

“To have 30 shots on goal was pretty promising. Even though we kicked 18 points, it still means the ball was done forward quite a lot.

“We just need to take better opportunities and make sure we convert.”

Keeping Heathcote goalless throughout the opening quarter meant LBU led from start to finish as it piled on eight goals to four in the second half to seal the winning result.

Thomas Leech's work rate up forward earnt him four goals, while captain Jarod Bacon impressed on the wing with his ability to break lines.

And with a young Tommy Eade rock solid down back, Collins said it was a solid performance "all round" from his team.

But with players still looking to bounce back from 18 months on the sideline, Collins admits it remains obvious players had missed a lot of footy - and suspects teams won't fully hit their straps until later in the season.

“I really think it will take until half way through the season for guys to feel like they are back to where they were,” he said.

“It just takes time and it's not going to happen over night.

“But that's not a bad thing, it just means we have got plenty to work for and on.”

With a round two clash against 2019 grand finalists Colbinabbin looming large this weekend, Collins said his team would attack mid-week training head-on.

“We'll want to clean up our game; with 18 months out of the game not playing at all, it's just meant the game sense skills are a bit scrappy,” he said.

“Just trying to customise that and getting our bodies ready for that faster footy.

“A game is a lot quicker than training, and we need to get into that mentality.”