Tim Michell
COACH Andrew Johnston says he is keen to measure Calder Cannons’ improvement when they face TAC Cup pacesetter Geelong Falcons on Friday night in Torquay.
The unbeaten Falcons are a game and percentage clear of Murray Bushrangers at the top of the table after Round 7 and have an imposing record in recent meetings with the Cannons.
But Johnston said his team would welcome the challenge of confronting an in-form Geelong, recognised as the competition’s other ‘footy factory'.
“They have given us a real touch up the last couple of years at Skilled, but we are not playing them there which could be a positive,” Johnston said.
“It’s about improving and we have improved in the last three weeks.
“It’s just another challenge to say, let’s see how much we improved, not just in the last three weeks but also from 12 months I suppose for the guys who played 12 months ago.”
Geelong triumphed by 86 points and 90 points when the two teams met last year, with current squad members Aidan Tilley, Brad Bernacki, Daniel Hanna, Ben Caluzzi, Jean-Luc Velissaris and Mitch Podhajski involved in the Round 16 fixture.
The Cannons will be out to build on their first win of the campaign against Gippsland Power on Saturday.
Mitch Podhajski booted six goals and Jack Bytel had 34 possessions to propel
Calder to an 18.9 (117) to 12.13 (85) victory at Morwell Reserve.
“They have turned the corner the last couple of weeks in terms of their attitude and their work rate,” Johnston said.
“To be able to put four quarters together was really pleasing.”
Johnston said his team enjoyed a change of scenery after a successful trip to Victoria’s south-east.
“To get away to Dandenong was a step in the right direction a couple of weeks ago and Gippsland, where we have had some success in the past, was good,” he said.
Defender Ben Huggard, talls Daniel Hanna and Noah Balta and Mohammed Moustafa were other standouts in the 32-point win.
Several squad members who have been unavailable due to school football commitments will be in the frame for selection for the Round 8 match against Geelong.
The match starts at 7pm on Friday at Torquay Football Ground.
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Last Modified on 18/05/2017 16:42