Confidence growing at St Albans

A breakthrough win before the bye has reinforced St Albans’ belief that its 2–8 record does not reflect how competitive the Supersaints have been this season.

The Supersaints secured their second win of the year against Grovedale last weekend and now enter a double bye, providing an opportunity to reset before a crucial run home.

Despite sitting ninth on the Geelong Football League ladder at the midway point of the season, St Albans has remained in contention in most of its matches.

Recruit Ethan Mantas said the victory had given the group confidence that its efforts were beginning to translate into results.

“Confidence is really important in the game of footy,” he said. “That win, especially before the bye and then going into Leopold, is massive and I think confidence and momentum all plays a factor.

“I think we’re on the uprise. We’ve been in pretty much every game except the last time we played Grovedale.”

Mantas credited coach Rick Munn for helping maintain belief within the playing group throughout a challenging start to the season.

“I’ve had a few coaches in the VFL, ex-AFL players like Brian Lake and Brodie Holland and all that, but Rick Munn is an unreal coach,” Mantas said.

“He really knows how to get the group together and play a game style that will help you win games. So we’re just going to back him in and trust that system.”

 

 

Mantas has been one of the competition’s most influential recruits this season after joining from Caroline Springs and the Northern Bullants.

The defender is averaging 31.2 disposals and 7.9 intercept possessions a game and said experience gained from senior football at a young age had helped him make an immediate impact.

“It’s probably just experience at the end of the day,” Mantas said. “I debuted at senior level when I was about 15 or 16, so I got a handle of the big lads at a young age.

“And just knowing how to deal with that and just playing with freedom and backing your ability to do what you do best and do what you can to help the team win.”

With eight matches remaining in the home-and-away season, Mantas said the focus was simply on building momentum and banking as many wins as possible.

As a long-time Carlton supporter, he said the Blues’ recent resurgence provided a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change.

“The goal is to just win as many games as we can from here on in,” Mantas said.

“Just win one and don’t stop, that’s it.”

St Albans will return from its double bye to host Leopold on 11 July.