Robbie Stanton’s View from the top Part 2

?Things are going reasonably to plan at this stage considering the injuries etc. we have had so I cannot be too critical especially when you consider we do not have a very large squad.
?We have been playing consistent football with a professional approach and attitude so I?m pleased with where we are at.?
The Sharks are in the enviable position of being able to make the Top Four of their own accord and need not rely on ?other results? going their way but as Stanton says: ?Yes, it?s in our hands but the next 4-five weeks will obviously show the men from the boys but if we maintain our level of consistency we should be OK but nothing is a given in this game.?
Michael Robinson, Neil Jablonski, Srecko Mitrovic, Chris Price and co have had an outstanding start to the campaign but one unsung player has to Nathan Ralph who, in his third year at the this level and still aged just 20-years, has grown into his role quietly and efficiently especially when linking up with Price and Panni Nikas, another who has really come to the fore this year.
?I have tried to take the burden away from relying on just Brad Boardman to score the goals this season and to spread it out amongst the team which has been working quite effectively but I don?t really like to single out any player singularly.
??I prefer to say it?s a team effort, the whole and not the individual because no one player can win a match by himself and in some instances players don?t get the real credit they deserve.
Fair comment, especially when considering the importance of Nathan Denham between the sticks, the long lay-off of Ben Spruce or the ever emerging dynamic wing play of Michael Katz and Jimmy Bakis down the right or the rock that is George Souris at the back and the return of pocket dynamo whiz Nick Stavroulakis to the midfield.
?Our game against Manly United at Seymour Shaw is a good point because I thought we played them off the park but couldn?t score in our first encounter this year but Mossy (Phil Moss) changed a few things at our place and were just that little bit too good for us on the night although we had our chances.?
Another of the contenders for the major honours this year, it?s shaping up for a very good race to the finish.
-By Micky Brock