FROM the outside looking in, it appeared the wheels could have been falling off South Mildura.
After two thumping losses in succession to Imperials and Irymple, the fourth-placed Bulldogs trailed bottom side Red Cliffs at half-time last weekend, raising doubts as to whether they were finals contenders or pretenders.
But, internally, no panic buttons were hit, and their second half performance, where they piled on 11 goals to three, vindicated the belief within that this young South team remains on the right track.
Central to their stunning return to form was gun recruit Jackson McEwen, who led from the front when the game was on the line to be the Holcroft Lawyers Footballer of the Week for Round 11.
“After a couple of tough weeks, where we were a bit low on confidence, so it was just good in the second half against Red Cliffs that we found that confidence and freedom that we showed in the first half of the year,” McEwen said.
“You do get those flat spots in a season with a young side, but you just give them plenty of encouragement around the club and remind them that being consistent is a difficult thing, but to remain positive and just focus in on the next week.
“They (Irymple and Imperials) definitely showed us where we need to get to, and while it would have been good not to hit them both at once, we now know the standard required to match those top sides.”
McEwen, who is originally from Cohuna but spent his previous three seasons at Rochester in the Goulburn Valley, has been one of the key drivers behind South’s rise up the ladder this season.
He was again seemingly everywhere against Red Cliffs, where his class and poise on the inside and outside of contests generated many attacks, allowing the likes of another key recruit Matthew Min to rediscover his goalkicking form up forward.
“I guess a few of us new players to the club weren’t there through the tough times, but there is just a good feeling around the club about being in the mix for the finals,” he said.
“There is also plenty of enthusiasm about the fact that we are a young group so there is a bit of prosperity. I’m loving it.”
This weekend, South Mildura heads to Robinvale to take on the Eagles in another crunch game.
While the Eagles may be 2-7, McEwen admitted there was no chance of South taking them lightly.
“Definitely not,” he said.
“It’s such an even season, so we are expecting a slog there and will need to bring our A game.”
