Going nowhere: Bayswater's Daniel Maclachlan is stopped in his tracks by Mooroolbark players on Sunday. Picture: Sam Stiglec
BAYSWATER will look to 2013 with confidence despite a disappointing end to its Eastern Football League division 2 season on Sunday.
The Waters lost to Mooroolbark by 71 points in the elimination final at Jubilee Park, the Mustangs setting up a preliminary final date with Rowville at the same venue this Saturday.
But the margin was hardly indicative of the Waters' ball-winning ability as they kicked just three goals from 17 scoring shots and struggled to use the football well inside their forward 50-metre line.
The Mustangs overcame an indifferent opening term to make full use of their substantial height advantage in the forward line, controlling the midfield and finding full-forward Kire Talevski and resting ruckman James Charge one out with their opponents.
Talevski kicked six goals and Charge added two.
Despite the Mustangs holding a 34-point lead at the final change, the Waters dominated the opening minutes but missed several early shots at goal and when Waters coach Neil Winterton was tackled by James McManus just as he was lining up for goal, the Mustangs were already assured of victory.
Winterton, who confirmed he was returning to coach in 2013, said his side was not far away from the leading teams in the division and would look to upgrade its kicking skills and attacking options during the off-season.
"It's disappointing to end the season in this manner especially since they got a few goals in junk time to extend the margin," he said.
"We had plenty of chances but our kicking skills let us down and we struggled to find a marking target up forward.
"Brent Jane missed this match with a shoulder injury and probably wouldn't have been right for the preliminary final if we had made it. We missed him as that target and like a lot of clubs, in the off-season we will be on the lookout for a key forward. We also need to work on our foot skills because we had enough chances, we just couldn't capitalise on them.
"They also took advantage of their height advantage; we couldn't do much about that."
Hayden Schroeder, Matt Cunningham and Ryan Handley were best for the Waters.