Reeva’s Match Wrap | Semi Final

I’m sure like most of our supporters, I have been through a range of emotions over the last 24-hours, from frustration to disappointment, throw in some self-doubt in the middle of the night when sleep was a battle. Thankfully, there were a couple of hours before the sun came up and as always, the mindset quickly shifts back into review, learn and what is next. As a group we have a 12-hour rule, where we are able to have some self-pity, anger, or feel great, depending on the situation but then it is: shift. That rule is even more important at this time of the year, we will as a group, move on quickly because come Sunday what has happened in the past is irrelevant, it’s about where we are prepared to go now to find our way into another Grand Final.

Full credit to Sturt who played at a really high level over the full 120 minutes and deserve to be the first team into the 2025 Grand Final. The start of the game wasn’t as planned, and we found ourselves behind in the game and some work to do. While we never felt we were able to play the way we wanted to, we were able to scrap our way back into the game and lead at the first break. The second quarter played out much the same, with our ability to score from limited inside 50 entries keeping us in front in the game at the half time break.

Again, in the third quarter Sturt were able to play the game how they were wanting, we were playing into their hands for most part and unlike the first half of the game, we didn’t take our opportunities on the scoreboard that may have kept us close in the game, not that we really deserved to be, realistically. Even through the last quarter, some missed opportunities that could have got us close didn’t get the desired result. While the end result was disappointing, we find ourselves in a Preliminary Final this Sunday. If that was suggested at the start of the season and even mid-point, we would have grabbed it, and there is no more motivation then getting ourselves into a Grand Final again.

Well done to our Reserves group who were able to hold on and win a really close contest with South Adelaide on Saturday. Great reward for our young group that have been fantastic week-after-week over the season and the experience will be fantastic for all involved. They head into a week off now, and wait to see who their opponent is in a fortnights time.

We look forward to seeing a huge contingent of Bays supporters at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, what I know is we have an incredibly resilient and proud group who are determined to be playing the following week. They will thrive off your support and energy that is for sure.

Go the Bays

Best Players Semi Final: 1. L Hosie 2. M Proud 3. J Scharenberg 4. L Partington 5. L McBean

Darren Reeves

Senior Coach