Warriors told to step up

NORTH Geelong’s quest for consistency continues in today’s match against Langwarrin — but it will be without captain Michael Anderson and Nick Teichmann.

“Consistency” is coach Luciano Trani’s mantra and, after a horrid 6-1 loss to Melbourne City, Trani has called for his on-field leaders to step up in the absence of Anderson.

“We’re still growing as a football team and players are recognising the responsibility and the need to be first team players at a consistent level to be looking at top honours,” Trani said.

“They may have not been asked to take those responsibilities on in the past. They were amongst leaders that were leading the way. Now we are relying on every play to draw on their background and history to step up as a group. We want to be a dominant force in the competition and they’re the signs of growth I’m expecting to see every week.”

Anderson will miss with a groin complaint that kept him out of the Melbourne City game, while Teichmann is still recovering from the brutal knee to his lower abdominal area that saw him taken to hospital.

“I thought Anderson was OK after giving him the weekend off but it seems to have delayed the process a little longer,” Trani said.

Warriors fans will be keen to see a response in the first of four home games at Elcho Park their side will play in a row — a perfect platform to build on Trani’s call for consistency.

Trani was yet to settle on a starting XI, however youngster Tom Hidic is the obvious replacement for Teichmann if he decides to play three up the front, with Hidic the most clinical of the Warriors strikers this year, scoring three league goals off the bench.

The Warriors will go into the match against Langwarrin having beaten them recently in the FFA Cup, and must replicate their performance in that 2-1 victory if they are to stay in touch with the three teams above them on the NPL2 ladder.