OUTGOING Allansford co-coach Ben Holloway believes the chances handed to opportunity-starved players have provided a silver lining to an otherwise tough campaign.
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Holloway and fellow coach Brett Membrey gifted senior chances to several youngsters and reserves players to fill the void left by a mass exodus of experience in the off-season.
Optimism, however, is still alive at the cattery.
Holloway said his men were confident of producing an upset against out-of-form rival Dennington on Saturday.
A victory would lift the Cats from the bottom of the ladder.
“Against Merrivale, we used the ball quite well and did the one per cent things, but we just couldn’t get it on the scoreboard. If we play like that against Dennington, who knows?” Holloway said.
“Playing at home as well, we hope that gives us more incentive to come away with a win.”
Despite the Cats on-field struggles – it has been hit with countless injuries – Holloway said the feeling was optimistic and that the club would benefit from the reset in years to come.
“I think it can only benefit our club. You can’t keep going back to the well, bringing in ready made players,” he said.
“We’ve probably been able to play seven or eight kids this season which has been great. We’ve been careful about it, because we didn’t want to just play them week-in, week-out.
“There’s a few guys who also probably aren’t young in age, but young in experience who have stepped up from reserves. Guys who have never had an opportunity.”
Holloway, a dairy farmer, said contested ball would be vital against the Dogs, who have slipped to eighth on the back of consecutive losses in recent weeks.
“If you can’t match them around the contest, they’ll get first use and even though Chris Keilar has been in and out of the side, they’ve still got some options,” he said.
“Like every game, I think this one will be won and lost in the middle. If we can get first use of the ball it will help us.”
Despite his intention to step down at the end of the season, Holloway said the club was crying out for a key forward to bolster its stocks in future years.
“We’ve been quite blessed in the past to have strong forwards in the past, because we’ve sort of been robbing Peter to pay Paul by having Gummy (Brad Williams) or Brett (Membrey) as forwards, he said.
“Brett is so good for us down back and he has a lot of experience to help those younger blokes.”
Holloway said the club was still enjoying strong numbers at training.
