Chargers face big hurdle at home

HOBART has put itself in a position to take full advantage of a solid run of home SEABL matches but first must remain on guard against an outfit coach Anthony Stewart rates as the best in the league.

The Chargers split last weekend’s road trip against Bendigo and Sandringham to sit 2-2 on the season, with seven of its next eight games at the Derwent Entertainment Centre.

Tonight the team faces a Sabres squad keen to atone for last Sunday’s narrow fivepoint loss, with Stewart believing the addition of two-time Olympian David Barlow makes Sandringham one of the championship favourites.

“We have played against Kilsyth and Bendigo who I thought were two of the favourites — for me Sandringham is probably a better team,” Stewart said.

“With Dave Barlow going into that group, he certainly value added to Sandringham.

“We played extremely well, it was our best game and we won by five.”

The Chargers could — and arguably should — be entering tonight’s match at 3-1, having blown a 16-point halftime and 10-point three-quarter time lead against Bendigo to go down 92-88.

After a string of tight road losses in 2017 it left Stewart sensing a case of déjà vu, adding even more importance to the Sunday result after his men were again challenged but managed to respond.

“There were a few warning bells and I didn’t want to go down the same road as we did last year.

“We spoke afterwards and the next morning before we played Sandringham, credit to the guys, they responded on the Sunday afternoon.

“It was important we came through when Sandringham challenged us, that has given us some confidence going into the rest of the season.”

Tip-off tonight is 8pm at the DEC, with the Chargers women kicking off proceedings at 6pm.