Another competitive and combative performance today in what turned out to be pretty good footy conditions for 3-quarters as the dark and gloomy clouds lingered overhead and finally broke in the 4th quarter to remind us all, after all, footy is a winter sport!
In recent weeks the emphasis has been placed on self-belief, achieving your personal best, and cutting the shackles loose to do the one thing (s) you have wanted to say “I did it” this season. Perhaps it is because the imminent end of the season is staring you down, or maybe it is finally the practice and toiling away in games that is now delivering up to you the mental and physical capability and skills to “get there” and you’ve have found some form. Clearly some boys who have saved their best til last and for many others, achieving consistency within the four quarters and / or from one week to the next.
A good opposition who is skilled to put the hurt on from turnovers through quick ball movement to outside runners that hit up targets with efficient foot skills into the forward 40m…that was it at the end of the day because in the contests, the appetite was really good.
Recognition and awards for this week:
Ben Allan – rucked all day, won no less than 95% of the ruck work and was impactful for four quarters around the ground – best game for the year
Ben Coote – strong and consistent performance for all full 4-quarters, charging into contests with speed and intent, marking strongly and winning clearance kicks and providing good options off the back of the stoppages…great come back performance after missing most of the season
Liam Kenny – strong first half in full back and provided real marking options up forward in the second half, most of the time being out numbered with opposition numbers floating back, and scored one goal
Beau Harrison – competitive 1st half on the ball and an outstanding man-on-man performance at full back in the 2nd half saving many goals
Kegan Timms – best performance for the year across 4 quarters, winning many man-on-man contests in defence despite a tonne of repeat opposition entries, combining several times with Beau in the 2nd half clearance work out of the backline
Other special mentions include a great Captain’s game by Marcus White, Coops willingness to go to one of the top 3 players and while having met his match showed tenacity to stick the task and play a role for the team, a solid on-ball performance by Sam Wilson, and signature hard running leads from CHF by Liam O. to create exit options from our backline (scored one goal), an Per’s blinding 2nd quarter across the half backline.
One game to go for the season boys…eat and sleep this week, gear yourselves up for an absolute ball-busting last match against Bentleigh, go in to the match intent on controlling what you can, play without inhibitions, be daring…leave nothing in the tank when the final siren sounds this week.
Gavin Coote
Coach
