Plenty of scope for improvement, says East coach

THE most pleasing aspect of East Point’s 3-0 start to the season for coach Joe Carmody is understanding the Kangaroos’ best is still to come.

Last year’s runner-up showed poise and resilience to overcome a resolute Bacchus Marsh for a 17-point win at Maddingley Park on Good Friday.

A crucial win followed a similar intrepid victory over North Ballarat, in which the Kangaroos turned a one-point three-quarter-time advantage into a 22-point triumph in round two.

Against the Cobras, East Point trailed by eight points at half-time, before gaining the ascendancy with a five-goal-to-one third quarter.

The Kangaroos held firm in the final stanza to put the seal on a 12.15 (87) to 11.4 (70) win that Carmody labelled as “tremendously hard fought”.

“We probably didn’t use the breeze as best as we could in the first quarter and then they kicked five goals to our one in the second, so we had a task ahead of us,” he said.

“But we were pretty resilient.

“With the players we had out, it was good to see our young guys stand up and play their role.

“Obviously, Jacob Brown up forward really had a massive impact for us kicking four goals and Jordan Johnston (two goals) through the middle was fantastic again.

“Jacob is normally down back for us, but with Bryson McDougall out, we played him up forward and it worked out really well.”

Brown stamped his authority on the contest at the most crucial of times, booting two of his goals in the Kangaroos’ third-quarter resurgence, and one against the breeze in the last.

The Kangaroos, who were without six of their best 22 against the Cobras, can look forward to the return of at least four players against Redan, including McDougall, Matt Johnston, Billy Jones and Joe Dodd, and potentially, Alex Molan.

Given the absence of key personnel and the increasing evenness of the league, Carmody could not underestimate the importance of banking early wins.

“We haven’t played our best footy yet and I think it’s been shown that opposition teams have all improved as well,” he said.

“We are not playing at our best, but still getting the job done, so I’m pleased with the three and zip start.

“It’s good to get those early wins on the board, especially when we have got a few out.

“Each and every week in this league is a new challenge – it’s really even.”

Carmody was full of praise for Bacchus Marsh, which lost for the first time this season.

“I thought their midfield really dominated in the first half and it wasn’t until we really broke even in clearances that we started to get

some scoreboard pressure on them,” he said.

“Goetz in the ruck is a fantastic player and Jake Owen (four goals) up forward is one of the best key forwards in the game, and they have some great young talent.

“They were really good.”

High-profile recruit, former Geelong and Carlton AFL star Zach Tuohy, made his first appearance for Bacchus Marsh in the loss.

East Point will look to maintain its unbeaten status against Redan at Eastern Oval this Saturday, while Bacchus Marsh faces the 1-1 Darley.