Essendon Royals Coach’s Comment: Battiato rapt to be back home

Essendon Royals Senior Women’s Coach Vince Battiato is hoping for a strong showing of support from the Royals faithful as his side plays their first VPLW game at Cross Keys against Geelong Galaxy.

Looking forward to the first home game of the season, Battiato expressed his excitement to be back at Cross Keys.

“Cross Keys was the scene of so many enjoyable evenings last season, and I’m just rapt to be back.

“I’m looking forward to the Royals’ support as we aim for two wins from two,” he said. 

Battiato acknowledged that there’s still room for improvement and emphasised the importance of not missing an opportunity.

“The highlight of any pre-season is Round 1, and no one wants to start without three points. I’m thrilled with our start,” Battiato said.

“What’s even more pleasing is that we were nowhere near our best but still managed to put away a good side.

“We came through with a tough test and secured those goals.”

Regarding the upcoming match against Geelong Galaxy, Battiato identified the challenge of nullifying their key players. 

“They have a strong all-around side, so we need to address their threats,” he said.

The coach also stressed the importance of maintaining a strong defensive structure while keeping the team’s attacking mindset. 

“For me, defence is key. I want our defensive structure to be as near perfect as possible,” Battiato explained.

Finally, Battiato warned against losing concentration during the match. “If you fall asleep, you get punished. We can’t afford to lose concentration for even a few minutes, as that could cost us the game,” he concluded.

Join the Royals at Cross Keys Reserve this Sunday.

Kick-off at 5 pm.