WARRNAMBOOL Seahawks coach Matt Alexander says his red-hot roster is ready to tackle its first double-header of the Big V season.
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The third-placed Seahawks play two sides outside the 15-team division one competition’s top eight this weekend.
They host Mildura Heat at the Arc on Saturday night before travelling to meet Sunbury Jets on Sunday afternoon.
Warrnambool coach Matt Alexander said the Seahawks, coming off a dominant 33-point victory over fellow finals contender Geelong Supercats, wanted to improve with each performance.
“We have to give great effort,” he said.
“We have won the rebound count the last three weeks and we are a small team.”
Alexander said Mildura had the potential to belie its 2-5 record.
“They’re to be respected because they beat Shepparton,” he said.
“They’re up and down but on their day they can beat contender teams.”
Seahawks import Xavier Johnson-Blount – one of the side’s most consistent performers and crucial to their emphatic 4-1 start – will get the task of nullifying Heat recruit Decorey Jones.
“He’s a small forward and played state league last year,” Alexander said.
“X is up and about and giving heaps of effort on defence, but as a team as well we’ll have to be aware of where he’s (Jones) at.”
Alexander wants to give emerging forward Brock Carter more minutes this weekend.
The first-year coach, who retired at the end of the 2015 season, believes the Portland teenager can handle added responsibility.
“That is what I want to do but you have to coach for the moment,” Alexander said.
“He has only missed one shot in three games and had five points and five rebounds last game in eight minutes.
“(Big V) is a lot faster than what he’s played before and we have to monitor how he handles it.”
Another teenager, former Vic Country representative Ollie Bidmade, will split his time between the Seahawks’ division one and youth league rosters this weekend.
He will suit up against Mildura on Saturday night before travelling with the youth team, which is coming off a bye, to Mornington on Sunday.
“He’s been good for us and has blended well into the team with his hustle and he’s a high IQ guy,” Alexander said.
“But he’ll benefit from 35 minutes in one game so we’ll take the opportunity to do that.”
Division one tip off is at 7pm on Saturday.
