After losing three of their first four games by an average of 25 points, and a horror debut Big V season, things were looking grim for the Surfcoast Chargers. Here’s how they turned it around.
Following a 3-19 formline in their inaugural Big V campaign, which kept them anchored to the bottom of the Division 2 ladder, it wasn’t the ideal way to start year two.
However, Scott said with a bunch of new faces – sourced through family connections and the Corio Bay Stingrays – his Chargers have begun to make a recent habit of winning the close ones, with twin one-point margins over the past two rounds.
Surfcoast are now 5-5 and mid-table with a rematch looming with ladder leaders Whittlesea – who belted them by 30 points in the opening round – this Saturday afternoon as a litmus test on how much they’ve improved in 2023.
Surfcoast Chargers head coach David Scott (second from the left) with Mel Jackson (player) and SBA board members Adam Forde, Leon Sayers and Rebecca Lewis at Wurdi Baierr Stadium. Picture: Mike Dugdale
While the Chargers finished dead last in 2022, Scott’s “family-based club” showed enough promise to attract the likes of conference leader for average rebounds, Conrad Cooper, Tyler Erard (sixth for average points) and Rody Spoormakers.
Cooper linked up with his brother Leo, while Erard, Spoormakers and Marc Allan Goodwin have come across from Division 1 outfit Corio.
“It was our inaugural year last year so we didn’t really know what to expect,” Scott said.
“It’s a slow progression but we’ve been blessed with what we did in the first season resonated with quite a few.
“It’s helped us attract some players and we continue to improve.
Surfcoast Chargers have won four of their last five games to sit mid-table in Division 2. Picture: Surfcoast Chargers.
“It’s a long way to go but hopefully we’re going in the right direction.”
After the first five games were mostly decided by double digit margins – albeit four of them being on the road – the Chargers have had to fight tooth and nail to win four of the past five, with those fixtures decided by a total of 30 points.
The one-point wins over Altona and Melton followed fixtures decided by nine and five-points, against Sherbrooke (win) and Mildura (loss) respectively.
“They could have gone either way,” Scott said of the wins over Altona and Melton.
“The improvement has come from the team chemistry and that development from understanding our game plan and what we’re trying to achieve this season.
The Chargers have won their past two games by a point. Picture: Surfcoast Chargers.
“We continue to take the win but understand there’s still development required to finish out those games in a more comfortable manner.”
Scott it had taken time for a new-look squad to click.
“We were finding our feet early and we’re starting to find them now,” he said.
In round 9, the Chargers’ 17-point first break lead was slowly whittled away after being outscored in the second and final terms, but hung on.
Erard was huge with 28 points and 17 rebounds, supported by a 19-point, 18-board display from Cooper and Dogukan Elyazar (20 points).
While describing Erard as a “great facilitator”, Scott was reluctant to single out individual performances.
Tyler Erard playing for Geelong United against the Horsham Hornets in 2020. Picture: Stephen Harman
“Everyone’s of value in the team, it’s not just on skill,” he said.
“It’s not just on court, we look at what they bring in terms of culture and their positivity to the team.
“We’re just trying to use their strengths but also help them develop.”
Cooper was an “extremely talented rebounder (who) just gets after the ball”, while bringing value off the floor, Scott says.
“He gives 100 per cent, both on and off the court,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the round 8 match against Melton, Surfcoast were down 11 points late in the second term before Spoormakers’ 31 points – including 12 in an important third term – saw the visitors sneak home by the barest of margins at Cobblebank Stadium.
Overall, Scott believed the standard of play in Division 2 had improved “considerably” compared to last season, with a stronger talent pool.