Barellan insist they’re playing the long game when it comes to having an impact on the Farrer League, with co-coach Matt Irvin declaring their first win in a season-and-a-half is just a step in the right direction.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Two Blues demolished Coleambally by 14 goals at Barellan on Saturday, setting up a big game this Saturday against the only other club they’ve beaten in two years, Charles Sturt University.
Their response was measured as Irvin and Dave Curran continue to push a message of broader cultural change.
“The last two-and-a-half years we haven’t had many wins (since moving from the Northern Riverina League to the Farrer League),” Irvin said.
“So the ability to win and the want to win is hard to get to. But we now realise we need to believe we can win and want to win… losing is no longer okay.”
Curran and Irvin replaced Darren Jackson after the Two Blues had five straight losses to start the year despite recruiting considerable experience from Canberra in the off-season.
Improving discipline has been one of their goals.
“We’ve been on the road to recovery ever since taking the job on and the boys have improved with each thing we put to them,” Irvin said.
“We expect a lot from the boys and they’re really coming through with the goods. It’s a real shame that we’re up to the tail end of the season but it’s a good way to set up for next season.
“We want to achieve things that are going to benefit in the long run. We’ve got some things to change around the club, and cultures we want to bring in.
“We’re not even afraid to throw away wins, so we can win in the long run and be a solid team in two or three years.”
Irvin said it was pleasing to see Barellan go on to rack up a big score against the Blues, with a nine-goal quarter to finish off.
“That’s what I really stressed to the boys at that time – when you’re winning, and then you can put the foot on the throat, that’s where you build I think,” he said.
“When you’re winning and then take strides, that’s where you start to set up for next week and that’s when you’re building as a club.”
Barellan created quite a stir when they came close to knocking over North Wagga last month but were buried by a six-goal first quarter from the Northern Jets the following week.
It’s a lesson they’ll head this week ahead of the CSU game.
“If we can back it up, that’d be what we want to do because obviously we didn’t back up our last good effort against North Wagga, against Ardlethan (the Jets). We’ve got a lot to achieve by the end of the season, so we’re not about to take a step back.”