It took three quarters, but Bannockburn finally started to gel together and play as a team, says coach Kevin Dans.
The Tigers were locked in a tumultuous arm wrestle with Werribee Centrals for most of the day, but a dominant final term from the Tigers indicated their ability to play team orientated football, said Dans.
“We’ve been making a lot of changes lately and to be honest a lot of these guys haven’t really played that much football together,” Dans said.
“Over the last few weeks the focus has been on building momentum and gelling together as a team.
“I think we have started to do that and the final quarter highlighted that.”
The first half was played out in idyllic conditions at Victoria Park; with both sides displaying the degree of skill and endeavour that is expected of finals bound teams.
The second half was a different story however, with players finding it difficult to adjust to the strengthening wind, resulting in a scrappy affair.
Only two goals were scored in the third quarter.
Bannockburn looked like a different side in the final quarter and finally started to convert its all round ascendancy into scoreboard pressure.
Dans said the final quarter will give his side great confidence going into the elimination final next week, when the Tigers again meet the Centurions.
“We have a lot of confidence now. Today I felt we really had the majority of the play all day but just weren’t able to convert and that’s something we have to improve on before next week,” he said.
Dans said he was very aware that the Werribee outfit that fronted up to play on Saturday was very different to what he expects next Sunday and that he doubted whether his side will gain any mental advantage.
“I suppose it’s up to them (Werribee) as to where the mental advantage lies but I don’t know if there’s much there.”
Werribee Centrals coach David Leatch said he was disappointed with the way his players responded in the final quarter, rather than being concerned about eventual 28 point margin.
“I think we lost the mental battle in the final quarter. We made a couple of early mistakes and weren’t able to react positively which was disappointing.”
“It wasn’t a fitness issue; you only have to look at games where we have kicked away with 10 goal final quarters. We know we have the legs.
“We just need the experience to be able to respond well if we’re going to win finals games. We were only a couple of goals down but just didn’t respond in the right way.”
Both coaches said that there will be some changes to their line-ups before the two sides go to battle next week in the elimination final.
Dans said that although his focus is on maintaining a tight knit group, there will be certain changes in the make-up of his side.
Leatch said there are some big names that will return for the green and gold next week, with captain Brendan Chugg, leading goal kicker Anthony Kitchen, centre half forward Adam Schembri and midfielder Luke Montgomery among the likely inclusions.
The two sides meet on Sunday at Osborne Park, which hosts the first round of finals football this year.
Last Modified on 19/08/2009 08:33