Chargers facing local roadblock
HOBART’S road wobbles are starting to hit crisis point as the SEABL hits the business end of the season, but coach Anthony Stewart hopes the Tasmanian derby can lift his side out of the doldrums.
The Chargers have lost four consecutive matches away from home since the midyear break — they are 2-6 on the road in 2017 — to slip from first to third in the South Conference ahead of tomorrow night’s showdown with the North West Thunder in Ulverstone.
At home Hobart averages 101 points per game, and has scored at least 93 in all its wins at the DEC and sole match at Kingston. However away from familiar surroundings the team is putting up just 86.
While the six road losses total 29 points all up — just 4.8 per match — an inability to close out tight games could ultimately cost the Chargers a crucial home court advantage when playoffs arrive next month.
“I don’t know whether it is a confidence thing but it’s certainly concerning for the group,” Stewart said.
“We are working hard and I know they are doing a lot off and on the floor to make sure their season gets back on track.
“We are doing everything we can to turn the tide on the road, but it’s a bit of an unknown right now. Finals is something we’re definitely not thinking about at the moment, four out of the six [remaining games] are on the road and if the trend continues we risk not making playoffs at all.
“To be honest I’m not sure we want to be a team to sneak into the four, we were hopeful we would finish top two and reward our fans and organisation by holding some highlevel finals in Hobart.
“Not all is lost, destiny is still in our own hands. Ballarat and Dandenong play each other this week so if we win we go back to second, we just have to try and hold on.”
After starting the season slowly the Thunder has won four of its past five to move into fourth spot, one win behind its southern rivals.
The home side will also be keen to atone for the horror Round 1 performance when Hobart handed out a 57-point hiding.
“Going into playoffs you want to get on a roll anyway — no better place to start that than against our archrivals from the North West,” Stewart said.
“It is a massive game for both clubs.”