Barwon takes lessons from local cup

BARWON coach Dale Harris’s quest for the perfect mix on the pitch continues in tonight’s Community Cup clash against Corio at Stead Park.

The State League 5 newcomer has had more than 20 new players walk through the door this pre-season and Harris is charged with the job of moulding them into a team.

It makes these pre-season fixtures vitally important, even if the result isn’t.

“The results have been mixed, but we haven’t kept a steady set 11. We’ve rotated,” Harris said.

“We are trying to find the right combination. It’s not so much about the result, we don’t want to embarrassed, but we want to find the right combination.

“With so many players we’ve got to give them the chance to impress. We could have the right combination at the moment, but we want to have the best possible one.

“We’ve been rotating players, trying to get their match fitness up. It’s still early for us, it’s all preparation.

State League 1’s Corio is a big step up in class for Barwon, who only played in Geelong’s local league last year.

But Harris said his team would learn plenty from playing against quality opponents.

“It’s a big step for the boys,” Harris said. “It’s a big eyeopener. But in saying all of that there’s not many teams (in State League 5) that will match the Geelongs, the Corios, the Rangers.”