Essendon Mazda Coach’s Comment: Battiato relishing Brunswick Juventus test for his Essendon Royals

Essendon Royals Senior Women’s Coach Vince Battiato is excited about the possibilities ahead of Sunday’s crucial State League 1 North-West clash against Brunswick Juventus.

The Royals did their promotion chances a massive favour last week by beating Spring Hills Stallions.

A win on Sunday would do their title chances no harm at all.

Juventus has been almost perfect this season, with the Royals only one of two teams they have dropped points to.

The other team is Bundoora United, which earned a hard-fought point off Brunswick in a thrilling 2-2 draw last week.

With the Royals looking relatively comfortable in second place, Battiato said that Sunday is now a bit of a free hit at the league leaders.

“I’ve always said the Spring Hills game last week would be the biggest of our seasons because that’s the game that put promotion on our own boot,” he said.

“But the fact that Brunswick was held to a draw on the same weekend, gives us a bit of a free shot at them tomorrow.

“We were always going to have a crack at them. But beating Spring Hills and now having the chance to go top means that there’s just that extra bit of impetus.”

Battiato said his team were thriving for a chance to take a win off Brunswick – something no one has done for a long time – especially after their last encounter where the Royals missed a penalty in a 1-1 draw.

“We feel like that was a game we should have won,” he said.

“We’d love to go out on Sunday and get that win back.

“If we can get a positive result then we know that if we look after ourselves and our results we can finish this season as champions.

“But, to be honest, we’re not thinking that far ahead. We’re just thinking about Sunday and looking to get a good result against a very good team.”