Chargers avoiding complacency as finals loom

A STRONG start to the back half of the season has Surf Coast well placed to finish in a favourable finals position with less than a handful of games to go.

The Chargers are rolling after a 29-point win over Blackburn on Saturday and are eyeing a favourable contest this weekend against a bottom-seeded Coburg side with one win under its belt in 2024.

Chargers head coach Stef Grayson said her side would need to avoid complacency when sizing up against Coburg, citing the importance of maintain a high seed ahead of finals.

“The same as any team, we can’t take Coburg for what they are on the ladder, so for us it’s about playing the way we play, controlling the ball the way we want to control the ball.

“A lot of stoppages come from our really strong defence, which we hope will turn into positive offence and our girls know that.

“The side at full health as well creates a big bonus as we enter the final portions of the season.”

The Chargers also boast a rare injury-free list, with stars such as Cortney Holloway, Jess Scannell, and Candice Rogers all suiting up in recent games and the mid-season break providing a much-need rest for players.

Surf Coast has won two out of three of its Division 2 games with only two games remaining on the other side of this weekend, both of which will take place at Wurdi Baierr Stadium in Torquay.

“It was a really tough first part of the season, as we battled a few injuries and went deep into our personnel with the number of double headers, but the girls really rallied together, had some fun and continued to get around one another,” Grayson said.

“The break definitely did our side really good, so a lot of the players are more confident in their bodies’ abilities and with no more double headers on the schedule, those niggles have pretty much subsided.”

The Sunday, July 14 clash with Coburg begins at 1pm with the Chargers’ next home game slated for July 20 against RMIT Redbacks.