Border Mail – Round 3 Preview
Communication is key for Jindera to improve this season, coach Kerry Bahr believes.
The Bulldogs have split their opening two games of the season, falling to Brock-Burrum in round one before taking care of business against Osborne last weekend.
“We’re not playing as good a brand of footy as I think we can at the moment,” the veteran mentor said.
“We’re probably a couple of weeks away from being at our best, so we’re going to have our work cut out against Henty this weekend.
“Our foot skills have been down, but there’s also been a bit of perceived pressure – we’re making mistakes when we have time to use the ball well.”
Henty are undefeated after two rounds, with Howlong the only other 2-0 team.
They say change can be as good as a holiday.
While much was made over the off-season of North Albury’s success in luring former players and recruits back to Bunton Park, brothers Liam and Callum Butler decided time was ripe for a change.
The Butlers have roots in district footy, although this is their first time they’re dipping their toes in the Hume League.
Thurgoona was where they played as kids, playing seniors for a year with the Bulldogs before making the move to the Hoppers in 2013.
Having only played for the two clubs, Liam said the decision to head to the Hume League wasn’t a decision they took lightly, but more a way for them to connect more as siblings.
“It’s been a really good change, we’re loving it out there,” he said.
“There’s a lot of good people at CDHBU, they’ve been really welcoming.
“Being able to play together is the number one priority for Callum and I, he stayed at North Albury so we could play together.
“He missed some footy through injury, so it’s good to be back out there.
“Even just the travel from Albury out to Coreen is an important time for the two of us.”
The Power have had a reasonable start to the season, although only as reasonable as an 0-2 start can be.
A four-point round one loss to Howlong was followed by a heavy 59-point defeat at the hands of Henty.
The determined midfielder was one of the Power’s best in the heavy loss, played in difficult conditions last weekend.
Butler believes the club is knocking on the door of a breakthrough win against the Billabong Crows this weekend though, although, by his own admission, he’s still finding his way in the league.
“I’d say we’re thereabouts,” he said.
“We haven’t been able to get over the line just yet which has been a little frustrating, but I’d be pretty shocked if we couldn’t be contending for finals.
“I’d like to think we can challenge, but there’s a lot of teams I don’t really know much about, so I’m still a little bit in the dark.”
Elsewhere in the league this weekend, Brock-Burrum takes on Rand-Walbundrie-Walla, while Holbrook hosts the Murray Magpies.
Jindera and Henty will face off, with an unblemished record on the line for the Swampies, Lockhart hosts Howlong and Culcairn comes up against reigning premier Osborne.
