HDFL | Concentration key for Bombers

By Bransen Gibson

May 26, 2022

Big in: Tom Brereton, pictured, will be back on the field for Leitchville Gunbower on Saturday. Photo: Steve Huntley.

Concentration and four quarters of effort, that’s what Leitchville Gunbower coach Tim Bannan said he wanted to see from his side when they take on White Hills this Saturday.

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“We want to play four quarters of footy instead of just five minutes here or there,” Bannan said.

“We have played together a bit now so it’s time to make sure we’re sticking to team structures but also going for the whole four quarters.

“A main focus is concentration, because that’s where it comes from. Playing four quarters of footy will come once we start concentrating again, that’s my main focus for this week.”

The Bombers are coming off their fifth straight defeat, a 36-point loss to Elmore last weekend.

Bannan said his side’s ball skills hurt them against the Bloods, adding that it’s an area they wanted to improve on this weekend.

“We coughed the ball up a fair bit when we had it in our hands, so hopefully we can look after the footy a bit more and make sure our on-ballers are working back defensively,” he said.

White Hills are 2-4 this season with victories over North Bendigo and Elmore, and sit just one win above the Bombers on the ladder.

Bannan said he’s expecting to come up against a physical White Hills side on Saturday.

“They are a fairly physical side. They are pretty handy, they have always been a strong team,” he said.

“We always want to win, but we want to improve as well.

“I think if we stick to team structures and play four quarters we give ourselves an opportunity. If we can do that, anything can happen.”

Leitchville Gunbower will welcome back Tom Brereton to the side this weekend, while youngsters James Barrett – who kicked four goals against Elmore – and Oskar Smartt will again feature in the team.

But the Bombers will be without one of their key midfielders, with Mitch Candy to miss the game due to illness.

“Mitch is a pretty big part of our midfield and he’s been playing some really good footy so that’s a bit disappointing, but at the end of the day though it’s about getting him right,” Bannan said.

The Bombers claimed their only win of the season so far back in round one, but Bannan said the playing group was still hungry for win number two.

“That’s one thing about this playing group, they keep coming to training and give it their all,” he said.

“They could have dropped off but they have kept going really well which is great, they are staying up beat.”

The Demons lost to Heathcote by 48 points last weekend.