Essendon Mazda Coach’s Comment: Ferrante fired up for Sydenham Park

There’s no sugarcoating it, according to Senior Men’s Coach Mick Ferrante.

Every point is crucial as the State League One Men’s North-West season comes to a thrilling conclusion.

A blockbuster few weeks across the competition has created a tantalizing run-in.

The seemingly untouchable Caroline Springs George Cross has been pulled back to within a game by Essendon Royals and Sydenham Park in recent weeks, with the chasing pack of Brimbank Stallions and Banyule City not far behind.

With second (Sydenham) playing third (Royals) and fourth (Brimbank) playing fifth (Banyule), there is a sense that the path to promotion could be significantly altered on Saturday.

And Ferrante said he expects his team to be right up for the occasion.

“If you can’t be motivated by games like this, I’m not sure sports are the thing for you,” he said.

“You look at the table and you can’t really sugarcoat it…it’s so close now that any little slip up is going to be detrimental.

“I don’t think it’s a secret that promotion is a goal we want to achieve and that’s a goal that means there is pressure on every game.

“With the ladder so tight, that’s just especially true right now.”

The challenge presented by Sydenham is a big one.

The Royals and Sydenham are undoubtedly the two form teams in the league – with both sides having defeated George Cross over the last three weeks.

The Royals did endure a tough draw away to Strathmore last week, whilst Sydenham were held the week prior by Banyule, effectively cancelling each other out.

“The form just makes this game that much more interesting,” he said.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted last week. I don’t think we played badly in tough conditions, but it’s not the result we want.

“I do think that the boys have a good track record of standing up on the big occasions this year. They have handled those big games really well, but so have Sydenham, so I think on Saturday we’re just going to have two really good teams going at it.

“It makes it super exciting.”