Inverleigh prepare for post-bye gauntlet

INVERLEIGH Football Club has a tall task ahead with all of the top three Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) sides taking on the Hawks over the next three weeks.

Hawks playing-coach Adam Donohue says his side will not require any additional motivation when it squares off with Bell Post Hill (second) this weekend in Round 9, East Geelong (third) next weekend and Thomson (first) in a fortnight’s time.

“It comes down to training well and preparing well, quite simply,” Donohue said.

“Our guys are experienced enough to know who we’re going up against without me going into it too much, and they’re well aware of the position we’re in at the moment.

“Our aim is to play finals, whether that’s top three or top five, it doesn’t really concern me, I know we’re going to get better as the year goes on, but my main is to finish in the top five.”

Donohue, who leads the Hawks in goals this season with 24, said he would love to stay on the heels of the top three.

He also said playing Bell Post Hill at Bell Post Hill after the bye was one of the biggest challenges the GDFL can offer.

Inverleigh sits in fifth on the ladder approaching the midway point of the season with five wins and three losses, but a loss to the Panthers may put the Hawks outside the top five if Werribee Centrals can defeat Geelong West at West Oval.

“We could potentially go two games behind the top three if we lose this week or even outside the top five, but the side will be well rested and we’ll be fully prepared for Bell Post Hill,” Donohue said.

“From my end, I’ve been watching a lot of film of our next three opponents, particularly Bell Post Hill, just trying to see if I can gain any advantages on the field because it’ll be really important that we come out with at least a couple of wins out of those game.”

Geelong West and Winchelsea presently sit a win outside the top five in seventh and eighth, respectively.