Rovers 5.5.35 to East Sandi 11.3.69
Goals: Roberts (2), M Carrigan (1), Brown (1), Xavier (1)
Summary
It felt like we had gone back in time arriving at our home at Castlefield Oval for the first time in couple of years. Coming off an unprecedented 2 week break both teams appeared rusty, struggling to be clean with the footy. In a highly congested game, whilst the Rovers seemed to be more dominate at ground level with their hardness and numbers at the contested footy, ES were perhaps more effective with their ball use once they got the ball out. Their first forward entry resulted in the first goal of the match, that the Rovers were able to answer via a rare free kick paid our way. This was quickly followed by another goal and our domination in general play was starting be reflected in the scoreboard. But just as felt we had the momentum another goal from ES against the run of play thwarted it. We had a late opportunity to post another at the end of the quarter but came into the huddle just a point ahead after dominating most of the quarter.
In general play the second quarter seemed to go very much like the first where the rovers were winning the contested footy and for most of the quarter had the ball locked in our forward half. For all our hard work we were only able to notch 3 points for the quarter including a couple of posters, whilst ES via their bigger bodied lads were allowed to break free and made the most of their effective long ball forward entries to score 2 consecutive goals. The Rovers came into the half time break convinced that were dominating possession but behind on the scoreboard, due to the efficiency of the opposition and perhaps a bit of luck going their way.
The hardness at the contested footy continued in the second half, and this immediately resulted in a goal to kick off the term. After posting another goal soon after to nudge our nose in front on the scoreboard we were hoping for a big quarter. Momentum is a big thing in football, and once we have it we need to exploit it! Unfortunately it can be quickly taken away, and in what seemed to a familiar patter to the day it was quickly lost upon the next forward entry by ES where they once again posted an easy goal against the run of play. Their efficiency up forward continued as they converted 2 more opportunities and the Rovers were facing an uphill battle to get back into the game.
The last quarter saw the game completely taken away from the Rovers, and whilst we never gave up the energy levels seemed to drop away as we conceded a couple of easy goals. Once again the end scoreboard seemed not reflective of the way the game was played, but perhaps represents the reality that the team that seemingly dominates general play can get well beaten on the scoreboard by a team that has more effective forward entries and scoreboard efficiency.
Highlights
- Jules leading the way at the contested ball with clean hands at ground level
- Josh D in his first D1 game for the year adjusting to the tempo and continually found the footy
- Elliot with his burst runs from stoppages clearing the ball from congestion
- Paddy’s pressure and desperation to get to the contested footy throughout the game
- Maso and his strength across the half backline and sneaky push forward early to post our first goal
- Louis and his desperate efforts deep in the backline clearing the ball out of the danger zone numerous times
- Arch winning the 1-1 contests and goal sense up forward with a couple of sausage rolls
- Xavier and his teamwork up forward rewarded with goal late in the match
- Kai and his relentless running all day from contest to contest
Things we did well
- Hardness and numbers at the contested footy ball resulting in winning ground ball and around the ground stoppages
- Pressure on the opposition between the arcs was great for most of the game
Room for Improvement (RFI’s)
- More effective ball movement once we clear congestion – turned the ball over to many times
- Centre bounce setups – seemed to allow their talls and bigger bodies to dominate
- making the most of momentum within a game, and not allowing the opposition to take it away so easily
- playing tighter across the back half, as well as having our mids apply consistent relentless pressure on the opposition irrespective of their shape and size
- forwards to lead and present in front – got caught napping a few times when we had good delivery from our mids
