Winch rides on a nine-game streak

Moloney used a statistic to identify his side’s inconsistency with Winch conceding 170-points across two hours of play while scoring just 17.

Outside of those two hours, the Blues had outscored their opposition.

“The three games that we lost, we probably had a quarter and a bit each game of footy where we dropped off,” Moloney said.

“We talked about falling off a cliff with our form, but we were then able to regain control a bit and get back in the game. Since then we’ve made a real emphasis of not dropping off that cliff…as long as you’re not just completely out of the game.”

While Moloney said it was unrealistic to play at a high standard 100 per cent of the time, narrowing the gap had played a huge role in nine consecutive wins that has Winch as arguably the Geelong & District Football League premiership favourite.

“It showed when we had the drop off that we weren’t playing as good as what we could, but when we were playing our best footy it was better than everyone and I think the last nine weeks have shown that,” he said.

“Just a bit of belief and a bit of a shift in our mindset that our best was good enough. We just needed to play it for long enough.”

In the past five games, the Blues defeated reigning premiers North Geelong by 58 points, previously unbeaten Werribee Centrals by two points, Belmont Lions by two, an in-form Bell Post Hill by 48 and knocked off East Geelong on Saturday by 11.

Moloney said the “old Winchelsea” would not have won all those games, whereas the “new Winchelsea” emerged when East Geelong led by two points at the 12-minute mark of the final term with the aid of the breeze.

Jordan Gould goaled from a set shot at the 22-minute mark and Indi Parish pushed the margin out to 11 with the clock showing 26 minutes gone with Winch holding on for a 10.11(71) to 9.6(60) win.

“The old Winch, we probably would have copped that and ended up being beaten or rolled over late,” Moloney said.

“But the group we’ve got now is showing a heap of character and a lot of maturity, which is great to see.”

Winchelsea faces an Inverleigh side that is playing for its season on Saturday before finishing off the home and away season with games it should win against Corio and Geelong West Giants. Win and the Blues not only assure themselves of playing finals, a top-three spot is a near certainty.

“I know Inverleigh will be doing everything they can to beat us.,” Moloney said.

“They’ve sort of hit some form lately and they seem to just front up and bring everything they can. It’s not a rivalry, but there’s normally some venom in those games.

“It’s always pretty physical, but we just have to keep winning. If we can win this game, that really sets us up to be in a great spot.

“And they’re probably the same, so they’ll be doing whatever they can to win and we’ll be doing the same.”