We were playing a side who last year played finals football. Therefore, the focus of the day was to be committed, disciplined and desperate for the full 100 minutes of footy. The club needs the reserves to start the day off with a brand of footy that inspires the senior side. The best results are always going to be those achieved as a team and the whole pre-game concentrated on POSITIVITY regardless the situation. Most important of all, achieving all of these facets makes each player a better footballer and teaches them what is required to make a higher grade for success both as a team and individually.
The first quarter again was a low scoring affair with our 1.2.8 leading Fitzroy 0.7.7. Fitzroy had blown their chances in front of goal and was giving us the chance to take the game. If not for the defence led by Gordo, Gomes and Co. it could have been a lot worse. Our best passage of the day came from the goal we scored where Viss provided a great option up the corridor 35m out and Davies swooped on it front and square and nailed the goal. This showed the side they can play great footy.
The second quarter for the third week in a row proved our achilles heel. We never capitalised on the chance Fitzroy gave us in the first quarter through sloppy disposal and a lack of talk around our ball carrier. They piled on 6 EASY goals to our 2 in the last 15 minutes of the quarter to lead 6.9.45 to 4.3.27. Concentration levels dropped and so to the belief of hanging in there after we had already spoken about digging in and not giving any ground.
The third quarter saw us nullify Fitzroy to 1.4 as we scored 2.1. Fitzroy led 7.13 55 to 6.4.40 but the message at three quarter time was that the win is achievable if they all pulled in the same direction, never give it in and run in numbers supporting the ball carrier.
Unfortunately Fitzroy killed the contest with the first 2 goals. We tried to pull it back with 3 of our own through Kinghorn however it was not enough. The final scores were Fitzroy 12.16.88 to 9.8.62.
Our discipline must improve amongst each other, toward the umpire and cut out other undisciplined acts. There will be zero tolerance to a lack of this for the next game. We are a young side and as such must show a far better positive attitude and mindset with more accountability and responsibility needing to be shown. This does not just come from the captain, vice-captains or the coaching group. It must come from each player to take it upon themselves to work together and rectify the issue at hand. There are enough guys in the group to show the younger guys what good leadership is all about.
Again, the midfield and forwards need to help out the backline and learn to run both ways. All 3 games have seen us have far less scoring shots than the opposition. The forwards again need to create more chances for themselves and for the midfield to give more drive and create more pressure when without the footy. Too often the backs are contending with some easy ball coming in for the opposition. We need to cease dropping off so many contests and being flat footed at most of the clearances.
The one issue that the backs must address next week is making sure you have touch on your opponent at all times and play in front. A good backman ensures that their opponent at the very least must work hard for each and every touch they attempt to get.
Hitting targets by foot must lift. There was still a lack of talk around the man with the footy and too many times we peeled off looking for an easy kick. Our training all pre-season was all about protection of the ball carrier and running inside. We had only 14 2nd half tackles and 10 blocks, smothers etc. We cannot accept this lack of endeavour and team ethos when without the footy. Rectifying this starts on the track Tuesday night with EVERYONE making an effort to get to training this week. Whilst we are not getting blown out of the water, we must learn that if we have pressure applied to us, we must not panic, we become more disciplined to the task at hand and keep all team tasks ticking over (pressure, tackles etc.).
Nick Sherminator Wakefield played some great footy down back for his first game up from the unders. Unfortunately during the third quarter he broke his wrist in 2 places and dislocated it with surgery on Monday. He will miss the full year so if you see him down at the club during the week, please offer your support to the young fella.
We face Werribee out at Soldiers Reserve this week. We have enjoyed a recent fierce rivalry and we should not expect anything less than a torrid contest from their fellas. This is where we as a group stand up, meet them head on with our own relentless endeavour and ferociousness at the footy FOR THE FULL GAME. I urge those that get a chance to take it and enjoy the contest.
Go Bloods
Alan Love
Reserves coach
Best players: Gommers, Gordon, Leonard, Tyssen and Weidemann.
Goals: Kinghorn 4, Visser 2, Davies, Smith, Leonard
Last Modified on 27/10/2009 21:24