By Lachlan Onions
A difficult task awaits Penola when it faces Kingston in Round 8 of Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara football.
The Saints are fourth on the ladder but enter the clash off the back of two consecutive losses.
Penola has lost its last five games after the Eagles defeated Naracoorte in Round 2.
For Penola, the Interleague break could not come soon enough as the Eagles have been hit with a number of injuries this season.
Penola coach Brad Maney said the bye could not come at a better time.
“Our injuries are fairly long-term so we aren’t going to be welcoming too many players back,” he said.
“We still have a fair number of players out, we just have to keep building with the squad we have and improve internally.”
Penola will need to out in a four-quarter performance if it is to stand a chance against Kingston on Saturday.
Todd Lockwood and James Siviour have combined for 31 goals this season and will look to continue their strong form in the Saints’ forward-line.
The Eagles have shown signs of promise throughout the season but have often been undone by collapses in the final quarter.
“Our main focus at the moment is our ability to defend across four quarters,” Maney said.
“We are really good at defending for a half or three quarters but we have been letting ourselves slip and the better teams have kicked six or seven goals in one quarter, which is not good enough.
“I think the defensive side of our game is where we need the greatest amount of work.”
Brad Bryant and Jacob Robbie will look to continue their strong form that earnt them call-ups to the KNTFL Interleague side.
“I am over the moon for Jacob Robbie, he had arguably our best preseason at the club,” Maney said.
“I’m really proud of him.
“Bryant has worked his way into the season, his last two or three games have been huge for us and he’s a proven footballer at that level.”
The Eagles will need a strong performance from Bryant in their clash against the Saints.
“Bryant sets the tone and probably his greatest asset as a leader is showing these young players how to prepare for a game,” Maney said.
“His nutrition, hydration, everything he does is at the highest level.
“He’s a professional footballer playing country football.”
Kingston will enter the game as favourites and will likely claim its fifth win of the season but Penola will look to put in a competitive performance to build upon for the second half of the season.
