NORTH Warrnambool Eagles co-coach Graeme Twaddle says the return of an inside midfielder is helping their onfield direction.
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Jye Bidmade is preparing to play his fifth match of the Hampden league season, having spent the first half of the Eagles’ campaign nursing knee tendonitis.
Twaddle said the former Panmure premiership player had played a role in the Eagles’ form spike through his leadership qualities. They’ve won three of the four matches he’s played.
“I think the bit of improvement we have made has coincided with him returning to the team,” he said.
“His defence is very good but it’s his leadership on the ground which is really beneficial to us. He influences the playing group. He is pretty vocal and we are generally a pretty quiet club.”
Twaddle said Bidmade’s return had also eased pressure on the Eagles’ onball rotations.
Forward-cum-midfielder Dylan Parish, who has been sidelined with a broken arm since round two, is also expected to ease the burden.
“Dylan is not far from slotting back in there too – to have a bloke who is six-foot-two running around in there will be good as well,” he said.
The Eagles are taking a conservative approach with emerging rebounding defender Taylem Wason.
Wason, who has been sidelined for five weeks, is expected to miss a further two weeks as he nurses a knee injury.
“We want to make sure he has confidence in it,” Twaddle said.