A Grade report

Another opportunity for us to go up against a top side this week with Golden Grove coming to Morgan Oval. Last time we played we really matched it with them on their home deck, only going down by a couple of goals after leading during the day. They've been in super form of late dominating Westminster by 10 goals the week before we took them on. So we really needed to approach this game with the right frame of mind otherwise the game could be over very quickly.
 
We've proven all year that we have the ability to run with every team this year which is a very pleasing fact but the real problem for us how long we can do this for. Last year we played very similar football but the opposition was nothing like this year, so we would be able to stay in the game even when not playing well. This year is completely different -- when we're slightly off the pace we get 5 goals put on us....
 
Unfortunately this is what happened in the first half of the contest. They were right on their game and we were slightly off the contest, thus meaning we were down on the scoreboard by 8 goals at the main break. My message when this happens is simple. Don't be happy with that performance and show some heart and pride. I believe the message this week really sunk in as the lads together as a group stood up to the opposition and ran the ball well, hit the packs hard and finished well in front of the big sticks.
 
Late in the last quarter we got the margin back to 2-3 goals and really had them panicking as the pressure had lifted and we were really taking the game up to them. Unfortunately that would be the closest we'd get to them as they put on 2 goals late to take the win. I feel it was another game that we let slip away as the opposition are not that much better than us, we just gave them too much of a head start.
 
Some terrific performances on the day were Joel Aish and Alex Kaethner. Joel's game in the middle and up forward was outstanding. It was like he had a hand on the ball all day, collecting many touches and using the ball well. Alex went onto a dangerous forward at quarter time and took him right out of the game, only conceding 1 late goal. Josh O'Connell again was solid in defence, controlling his opponent and giving some run. It was great to have Ian Perrie back this week, he competed really well across half forward and finished with 3 goals. Another to play well in the forward line was Ben Satterley. Had some doubts over whether he'd play with a damaged thumb but he put his hand up and finished with 4 goals.
 
Another week has gone by with another 2-3 quarter effort. Some of the footy that's being played is super but the difference between our good and bad is too great. This means we can't get over the line until we play 4 quarters, so hopefully that's this week against a Stuart Dew led Salisbury.
 
 
Best Players: Joel Aish, Alex kaethner, Josh O'Connell, Ian Perrie, Ben Satterley
 
 
Adam Silvy
Head Coach
 

Reserves report

Playing the top side was always going to be a tough ask. Golden Grove is definitely GF contenders and the way their side played I have no doubt it will take out the flag this year. It was a great lesson to us all in how football should be played – fierce and intense at the contest, run all day, tremendous team awareness, and the execution of ball skills was superb. To Jordi and his chargers – good luck for the rest of the year, although I suspect that luck will have no part in their success.
 
As to our effort, I only hope we were able to learn from our opposition. Next year is a long way off but hopefully the seeds that I have tried to plant throughout this year and as demonstrated by the opposition on Saturday, will enable our players to realise that success does not come without effort. Real effort.
 
The positives on Saturday – great to have Darren ‘Boof’ Lehman don the Navy Blue jumper. The photo in the Sunday mail was a travesty when compared to the way Boof played. For a bloke that has done all there is to do in regards to playing and coaching at an elite level (State and International), his presence was fantastic on and off the field. At 4/1 odds that he could kick 6 goals looked pretty good pre-game but unfortunately as the game progressed he drifted to 12/1. For a veteran he still gave us a solid presence in the mid-field after letting the coach know that he wanted nothing more to do standing next to his mate – Amts in the full forward area. I think he said something like Amts was cramping his style. Next week?
 
As for Amts – absence has made the heart grow fonder. Not since last year have we seen the effervescent Amts strutting his stuff. Looking more like Quasimodo on steroids, Amts started the betting at 12/10 in not making it through the 1st Q. There was value for money at 65/1 lasting the whole game however. By the way - Quasimodo was the infamous bell ringing hunch back of Notre Dame.
Notwithstanding all the whinging and carry-on, the ‘bell ringer’ was still capable of contesting the ball and actually did pretty well given the limited opportunities available to him. Mate – it was fantastic to have you play again. I cannot confirm if there was match-fixing shenanigans going on between the coach and Amts – but 65/1 looked bloody good odds. Next week?
 
On a serious note however – well there is none. Too late in the season for that. We have 3 more games – only the players know if there anything in their tanks to scratch any remaining wins.
 
Players worthy of mention are – Tom Rutherford: in his first full game for the year, he gave us fantastic rucking contests all day. I thought he won 50% of the duels and worked fairly well around the ground. Great effort Tom. Hope to see you back again.
Heath Doolette-Cox: Continues to defy the odds and importantly keeps making supposedly more talented players look very ordinary indeed. Yes we know Heath has much to learn in the disposal department, but by heck he excels where it probably counts the most on-the-field – endeavour, ferocity, run, can-do attitude. Keep at it Heath you will develop into a very important part of the side moving forward.
Paul Tripodi: Tried hard all day but received little support. Stewart Lovie: Under siege all day but never gave up all day. Stewart is emerging as an important player for us and by the sounds of it he is enjoying his time playing. Good job.
Finally, Andy Simpson: A talented young man playing with a not so strong shoulder. Yet he continues to burrow in, gets important possessions, and will be the better for it if a future recall into the A’s is available. 
 
All in all, we were beaten by a superior side on the day. I can live with that. We simply could not compete.
BUT I do think we were thrashed on the scoreboard because we simply did not have the attitude or the will to make a contest. That’s what hurts the most.
 
I forgot to mention that my odds have drifted significantly (now at 350/1) – it seems to some that even these odds are a bit short for me coaching next year!!
 
Peter Hamam
Reserves coach