A learning curve for young side

THE two Covid-hit seasons are catching up to Corio, leaving it “disappointed” by its winless start to the season.

And the Devils’ fixture doesn’t get any easier, with Bell Post Hill, East Geelong and Inverleigh to come in the next three weeks as the young side continues to learn the game.

After Joel Bennett joined Corio alongside his co-coach father Darren before the 2020 season, he expected the developing Devils to notch up 40-50 games by May 2022, but Covid scuttled those plans.

“We have definitely been disappointed with some of the results so far,” Joel said. We have played in patches that have looked good here and there.

“I knew it was going to be a bit of a process. I certainly would have liked to have a few more wins, but the stage our group is at, wins are not the be-all and end-all.

“In the last few years, we probably wouldn’t have played 20 games of football, so the guys that were 21 (years old) are now 24 and … still relatively inexperienced.

“It certainly hurts the young guys … they are still putting the feelers out there to find out what it takes to play team football.”

But Corio has seen good signs from Dylan Cefai, Destyn Burns and Jackson Doyle, while Toby Bennett picked up a career-best 38 disposals against Belmont on Saturday, just days after turning 21.