Reeva’s Match Wrap | Round 18

In what has been a common message over the past month, we didn’t play at the level we know we are capable of over the full 120 mins but again pleasingly for us is that we make sure we are in front when it matters and register another win – our 7^th in a row. There again were periods of the game where we have control and we put together strong football both in offence and defence, but then there are periods where we are a little sloppy and that has been a costly at times. While it isn’t ideal, what I’m am really confident in is the work our group is putting in, the level of intensity that they are getting the training sessions done at and that our game is good shape for what is coming up. We set out at the start of the year to put ourselves in the top 3 somewhere and we have achieved that part so now is being as best prepared as we can be.

Some credit belongs to Port Adelaide who played a really strong brand of football on the day – highlighting the great thing about SANFL, every team can win if they bring great intensity and endeavour for long periods. We started the game really well and looked reasonably sharp over the first period of the game. As the game wore on, we were our own worst enemy at times by overusing the ball by hands and turning the ball over in areas that makes it hard to defend. It is always easy to look and at game and search for reasons – there are a lot of stats to help decipher what happened, but in this case, it was a result of not finishing our work as well as we can. That was some of the case on the day in this one, we created enough opportunities, but we didn’t turn that into scoreboard pressure. We will be certainly working hard in our preparation this week.

The position we have been able to put ourselves in allows us to really plan the preparation of our group, being a long, gruelling year means there are a number of niggles for players so the opportunity to manage a couple of guys in this game, as well as doing the same into our Round 19 clash with Central Districts this weekend, is important. It also provides some opportunity to reward players that have played strong football throughout the year in our Reserves.

Our Reserves group started a little sluggish before getting going and recording a really strong win against Central Districts. The win sees them sitting nicely on top of the table with one game to go against the same opposition this weekend. With a couple of players set to return from injury, they are in a great position to finish as minor premiers which will be a great effort for our young group. They continue to play a really strong brand of football week after week.

With our last home game of the year done and dusted, a big thank you to all of our supporters that turn up every week to watch us play. We continue to have strong crowds at our home game and our group, players and coaches really appreciate the support you provide. We look forward to seeing a big contingent at Elizabeth this weekend in our last round game for the year before we head into the best football month of the year.

Go the Bays

Best Players Round 18: 1. C Gerloff 2. L Partington 3. C Lyons 4. K Finlay 5. C Beecken 6. J Lyons

Darren Reeves

Senior Coach