ORANGE Wanderers’ year is all but over, in terms of finals hopes anyway, but that won’t let the side’s motivation wane in the final three games of the men’s Premier League Hockey season.
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Not on player-coach Matt Johnson’s watch.
Wanderers are sixth and trailing fourth-placed Lithgow Zig Zag by eight points, the latter side needs only to win one of its final three games to seal Orange’s fate.
With that out of their control Johnson said rather than stew on what could’ve been Wanderers will reassess their goals, look to finish the season well and start planning for 2017.
“There is still that minuscule glimmer of hope, but we’ve come to terms with the fact the finals are pretty much gone for us now,” Johnson said.
"We haven’t beaten Parkes United yet, so that’s a goal for this weekend and we really want to beat Lithgow Panthers in the last round that’s another goal.
“We’re all very competitive people and a win’s a win, a loss is a loss no matter the circumstances we’re in.
“It’s a tough road trip to Parkes but being a bit more relaxed gives us the opportunity to play some loose, fun, attacking hockey I think.”
Johnson also said it gives the side a chance to continue the development of its younger players, who have shone in 2016.
“It’s a throwaway line from all the sides who won’t make the finals, but we can start looking towards next year now, making some plans,” Johnson said.
“We can play a few guys in different positions, try out some new things.
“All we can do from here is win games of hockey, and who knows, stranger things have happened. As I said, that glimmer of hope is still there.”
Wanderers take on Parkes from 1.30pm.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
