Flying Bareena shapes up as serious premiership contender
BAREENA is shaping as a serious premiership contender in the Geelong-Ballarat competition after coming off an important win against last year’s premiers Queenscliff away from home.
But chairman of selectors Dan Priddle has warned that any slip up could prove costly in Bareena’s search for highlevel consistency.
“With the strength of the competition we understand how important consistent efforts are on a weekly basis,” Priddle said.
“We certainly don’t see ourselves as flag favourites. It’s a long season with plenty of challenges ahead.”
It was a positive off-season recruiting drive which has helped earn the Badgers the title of flag favourites, but Priddle has played down the tag.
John O’Donnell and Brandon Anderson have injected some talent in the back end of the Badgers’ line up and the inclusions of Jackson Mahoney and Jay Hawker have added depth to Priddle’s arsenal.
The challenges continue tomorrow against Ballarat-based Webbcona, and while Bareena is expected to win, Priddle has distanced the club from external expectations.
“At this level, every team has the ability to win to come away with a win,” he said. “We have a lot of respect for Webbcona and this week again provides us with another challenge.”
Opposition captain Aaron Wood labelled this game as important for his side.
“We are seventh and not where we want to be, we have let slip a couple of tight ones and I think we are better than our position on the ladder,” the Webbcona skipper said.
Three losses under 10 shots for Webbcona show how competitive it has been, but honourable losses don’t help the side’s ladder position.
“It’s extremely disappoint- ing, we have had chances but just couldn’t take home the chocolates,” Wood said.
In other matches, Ballarat’s match of the round sees thirdplaced Sebastopol host fourthplaced BMS, while Ocean Grove ventures to City of Geelong.
Queenscliff will look to bounce back at home against Lara and Eastern Park head up the highway to Victoria.