CASTLEMAINE will be determined to put three hidings behind it and challenge Kyneton in Saturday's Bendigo Football League match at the Kyneton Showgrounds.
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Since defeating Maryborough on Good Friday to notch their first win of the season, the Magpies have kicked just 11 goals in a hat-trick of triple-figure hidings against Sandhurst (151), Eaglehawk (110) and Strathfieldsaye (124).
However, despite the past three beltings, Magpies coach Shane Robertson says spirits remain positive among the Castlemaine playing group and the club.
"The vibe, spirit and attitude around the club environment is magnificent," Robertson said on Friday.
"We're in a building process and we've spoken that we need to continue to build the club off the field.
"I've got to be careful about how I go about it... I'm a very aggressive coach and win at all costs, but you've got to come to reality at some stage and my approach at the moment is to make sure there's a positive attitude at the club."
Having played three top-five sides in a row, the Magpies come up against the seventh-placed Tigers, who lost to Strathfieldsaye by 125 points last week.
"We should be performing a lot better than we are. Getting beaten by 20 to 25 goals regularly... I've definitely put my boys on notice," Robertson said.
"We've been able to play some good patches of footy during the year, but we need to be able to put it together for longer periods of time."
Kyneton coach Mark Adamson has challenged his players to respond to last week's hiding from Strathfieldsaye when the Tigers were already 52 points down at quarter-time.
"It's about the players responding in a whole range of areas," Adamson said.
"It's also about learning from last week, but not being overwhelmed by the poor result. Our five weeks before that were competitive, and we had two wins before last week, so we need to get back to doing what we were doing well in those two wins."
The Tigers have made six changes from last week, both through omissions and injuries, while midfielder Hayden Wright has left and returned to White Hills.
"Hayden was straight-up and said he wasn't enjoying it, so the best thing for him and us is he goes back and plays at White Hills. There's no hard feelings," Adamson said.
