Pioneer stars looking for big second half

BOTH the boys and girls Bendigo Pioneers teams have had solid starts in the Coates Talent League this season with the boys in the ninth spot with three wins and the girls at thirteenth with two.

But with the season essentially halfway done, players from both squads are looking to make their mark in the remaining games whether that be overcoming injuries or working on some potential weaknesses.

Echuca’s Oliver Poole has had a great first half of the season, consistently named among the team’s best players.

The winger said he’s now looking to build on that form in the run home.

“I really want to work on my game, my strengths and tidy up the areas I’m sort of lacking at the moment,” he said.

“I feel like at the start of the season my kicking was a bit shaky. So, I have steadied that up a bit and taken my game to the next level.”

For Strathfieldsaye’s Malik Gordon the focus is more on becoming fit and getting some consistent playing time.

“I have only played about six games this year between the Pioneers and Strath,” he said.

“This year’s been a struggle to stay fit, which probably all started later last year when I had a bit of heart surgery, unfortunately, so had a bit of time off with that.

“I want to get out there and show my strengths and prove to recruiters and AFL clubs that I’m a decent player that they want to have at their club and get some consistent games in.”

Oskar Smartt is another hoping to impress AFL scouts on the run home with the Leitchville Gunbower mid-fielder wanting to impress with his contested ball winning.

“I love the inside role,” he said. “I love getting in there and having a good fight with the big bodies.

“I started off a bit slow I reckon in the first few weeks but I definitely showed my strengths in the Gippsland game before missing a few weeks with my ribs.

“I’m hoping to make the Vic Country squad to be honest, and to show the rest of Victoria who Oscar Smart is and to just play some really good footy.”

For the girls, both Steph Demeo and Bryde O’Rourke are looking to have strong second halves to the year, at opposite ends of the ground, and see where their footy takes them.

Demeo said she switched to the backline recently after spending most of her time across the middle.

“I started on the wing then a bit of inside mid and now I’m starting down back,” she said. “It is different being behind the footy, sort of seeing what’s happening, then just trying to rebound.

“I don’t really have big goals or anything at the moment, I’m just going with the flow going to keep enjoying it and see what happens.”

O’Rourke has also had a position change this year, but the Strathfieldsaye junior said she has a more set goal in mind for the future.

“This year I’ve been playing centre half forward so that key forward position,” she said.

“It’s a bit different this year because I’ve usually been playing wing or outside mid, so it’s a bit different, but I’m enjoying it.

“I would like to get drafted so I’m just trying to keep working hard for that.”