Club News

Reeva’s Match Wrap | Round 12

PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY CONCEPT DATA

Round 12 had us heading to Hisense Stadium and a clash with West Adelaide. While they have some challenges, what we know every time we play against them is that they will compete hard from start to finish, no matter what the game looks like. Our week of preparation was strong knowing this would be the case, but it was also around areas of the game we think we can continue to improve, trying some different little things that we may be able to use as the season moves forward and, as always, finding ways to play a brand of football that we know works for us and holds up consistently. While we were a little sloppy at times we walk away really pleased with a few areas and take a lot of positives away into our preparation this week.

The game was pretty congested and competitive around stoppage early, one area that West Adelaide has been strong at over recent times. It presented a few challenges for us, but we were pleased with how the group were able to adjust things on the run through the quarter. Once we were able to do that, we felt the game was looking like we wanted it to, controlling the ball well by foot and finding some good scoring opportunities on the back of some of these. This was the case over the course of the game with some of our ball movement from our defensive end to scoring opportunities a real positive to take away. We know there is still growth in this, and we will continue to work on it but from our perspective there was a lot to like. There was also some real positive again in how we defended the ground for most part, our pressure was solid, and we were able to set the ground up defensively reasonably well. Again, the scrambling defence and composure of our young key defenders really pleasing.

While I’m not one look too deeply into stats out of games apart from a couple we think are critical to how we play and what we know are important in the long run, a couple of numbers jumped of the page out of this game. + 71 uncontested marks and + 105 uncontested possessions really do tell a story on how well our group were able to control the game. When we are doing this, it makes it really hard for teams to defend us and on the bigger grounds this will be important as we progress further into the year.

Our Reserves group recorded another strong win after a game that didn’t really get going to any great heights for the first 3 quarters. What is positive for the group is they find a way to finish well and continue on their winning ways and sit well set up for the next part of the year. With some players returning from injury in this group and a little more experience than they have had at times they are set up well to play a strong part as the season progresses. Equally there are a number that continue to push for selection and that is a big plus for our group at this stage.

Round 13 will see us take on a strong Adelaide Crows team that are playing really consistent football and will provide us with a big test which is exciting for us at this stage of the season. We understand the big picture but as we have done right from the first day of preseason our focus is on what is right in front of us, and we look forward to the contest. It should be as all of our games against Adelaide always are, a great game of football. It will be great to have a big Bay’s crowd there to support our group. Can’t wait to see everyone there.

Go the Bays

Best Players RD 12: 1. L Partington 2. Cole Gerloff 3. L Hosie 4. J Lyons 5. J Scarenberg 6. J Bell

Darren Reeves

SENIOR COACH