Reeva’s Match Wrap | Qualifying Final

Two really desperate teams, challenging conditions, and a fair bit on the line set the stage in our Qualifying Final against Adelaide Crows. While it didn’t produce the high-quality ball movement and football that both teams are capable of, the intensity and willingness to put bodies on the line in the slippery conditions showcased a lot of what we love about the game and our competition. Credit to both groups of players that went about it the way they did, and we were certainly very happy to be in front when the siren went.

We were reasonably happy with how the game looked early on, it started how we thought it would and while we made some errors with the ball, we had good intent and liked the opportunities we were getting. Scoreboard pressure is always the most important and we didn’t get that quite right early, which was a little concerning. Adelaide presents a unique challenge compared to some other teams with their ability to hurt you from turn over and broken play. We were disappointed in our inability to stop that at times, some of it we can control with better decisions ball in hand but also being sharper with our transition into defence. We have been very good for most part, but it is an area to improve into this week.

What our group has in them is a strong belief and an ability to keep sticking to what we do, the positive result was looking challenging at times through the second half but of groups ability to keep finding away to score next and keep in the contest was impressive. With the game on the line in the last 15 minutes our endeavour to keep getting the ball forward and own territory became the critical factor. We had dominated in that area for the majority of the day but conditions and some incredible defence from Adelaide had made it difficult, but the opportunities came, and we were able to grab them when it mattered. It was a true finals game in every sense of the word.

From a coaching perspective I have been through a range of emotions since, but when it all settles we are in a finals series that has some really good football teams that are desperate for the same thing and I have quickly settled on, that it was one of the great wins for our football club, the energy and support of our Bays Army was electric and we get to head into a 2^nd Semi Final against Sturt and an opportunity to get ourselves into another Grand Final. Nowhere else we want to be, and we can’t wait to get into that on Sunday. Look forward to seeing an even bigger contingent of there to get behind us again.

Go the Bays

Best Players Qualifying Final: 1. Jonty Scharenberg 2. M Allen 3. D Bailey 4. J Lyons 5. J Bell 6. L Partington

Darren Reeves

Senior Coach