MITIAMO coach Justin Maddern is hopeful the jolt of last Saturday’s disappointing showing against Calivil United will spark the Superoos into action in the Loddon Valley.
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The Superoos were handed a 52-point hiding from the Demons and nine games into their season are still to make their mark on the competition.
The beaten grand finalists of the past two seasons sit fourth with a 5-4 record and struggling for consistency.
Maddern said in the aftermath of last week’s loss he couldn’t put his finger on why the Superoos were so poor against the Demons, particularly in the first half when they were outscored eight goals to two, but the reasons have since become clearer.
“There seems to be a mindset that we are turning up to games and just thinking it’s going to happen for us,” Maddern said on Friday.
“If we work hard then we’re a really good side, but if we don’t work hard we’re an ordinary side, and that probably is the same for the other eight teams in the league.
“There hasn’t been any middle for us this year… our good is very good and our bad is very bad, so we’ve just got to work on being more consistent, and that starts with our training.
“There wasn’t one light bulb moment that stood out after last week, but it was a combination of all the little things that we were letting go and have now been highlighted in that performance and forced us to re-assess, get back to basics and just work hard.
“If we do that I’m confident the season can get better for us.”
The Superoos – who are one game outside the top three – must back up for what’s another stern test on Saturday against one of the surprise packets of the season in Newbridge.
The Maroons have been a middle-of-the-pack side in recent seasons, but have taken their game to the next level and sit second with a 7-2 record.
Newbridge has won its past four games, while one of its two losses was suffered at the hands of the Superoos in round two when on the end of a 61-point belting.
“We know Newbridge is a much different side now from earlier in the year and they won’t allow us to play the way we did that day,” said Maddern, who has kicked 37 goals this season.
“But it all comes back to us making sure we bring effort to the contest. If the effort is there then we’ll give ourselves a chance for a good outcome.”
Saturday’s games – Newbridge (7-2) v Mitiamo (5-4), Bridgewater (6-3) v Pyramid Hill (4-5), Calivil United (9-0) v Inglewood (1-8), BL-Serpentine (5-4) v Marong (1-7). Maiden Gully YCW bye.
