Sport
29 May, 2024
Tigers heading in the right direction
DESPITE slipping to a 28-point loss against South Colac over the weekend, Tigers coach Daniel Beard feels his side’s performance has them trending in the right direction.
Beard said the club was always hungry for a win, but he believed his side showcased plenty of positives.
“In all honesty it’s the best we’ve played and looked all year,” he said.
“I’m really proud of the way we played our footy and how we moved the ball.
“It was what we’ve trained to do and for a large chunk of the game I felt we were able to open South Colac up.
“They’re a very good club but the signs were really good moving in to the next chunk of games.”
The glimpses of potential were on full display as the Tigers took control in the first quarter, racing out to a 26 (4.2) to 19 (3.1) lead.
“The first quarter was awesome,” Beard said.
“We saw a lot of high quality footy.
“Talking to spectators after the game they said they were blown away by how good of a game it was to watch in the first.”
But South Colac went on to surge after the break, slotting home five majors and five minors to just one goal and a behind from the home side to head in to the sheds up 21.
“The second quarter was disappointing for a number of reasons – some in our control, and some out of our control,” Beard said.
“We made a few bad decisions with the footy in our hands which led to turnovers and cost us goals.
“There were a few decisions that didn’t go our way, plus some really soft 50 metre penalties which really hurt.
“At the end of the day, there was about four or five goals which stemmed from little things like that which became the different.”
Beard said he was impressed the team were able to keep their heads up and not shy away from the fight despite the 21-point deficit at the half.
The Tigers could not shrink the deficit in the second half, nor could South Colac put the game out of reach in a back-and-forth affair which saw the Kangaroos winners 14.10 (94) over Simpson 10.6 (66).
“The resilience to push on for the second half was impressive, in what became a really good game of footy from both sides,” Beard said.
“It was very physical and both sides were hard at it, but we’re just so excited by the confidence the boys had after the game for seeing what they were able to do for a large portion of the game.”
Best players for Simpson were Reagan Jones, Noah Ackerley, Drayton, Addam Maric, Brenton De jong and Lochie Hawkins.
Goal scorers were Jarrod Garth (4) and Matthew Drayton, Thomas Leishman, Brad Salmon, Brock Neal, De jong and Nicholas Harding (1).
“Reagan Jones was matched up with one of the leading goal kickers and he did an amazing job,” Beard said.
“We’re playing undersized in the back half at the moment because we do have a few players out, but I can’t fault the guys who are doing the job at the moment – they’ve been sensational.
“I think our midfield is really starting to gel, and the confidence of the whole group to use the footy, be bolder with it and go off a line with it was most pleasing.”
The loss finds Simpson sitting sixth on the ladder with a 3-4 record, and looking to turn it around next week travelling to Apollo Bay.
Apollo Bay are sitting ninth on the ladder after grinding out their first win of the season over the weekend, an eight-point win over the winless Otway Districts, but Beard warned his side should not get complacent.
“Apollo Bay are definitely improved and there are no easy games,” Beard said.
“We just need to go down there with the mindset we started with against South Colac, and I think we should be able to get the job done if we come with that attitude.”
Beard said despite next week being an away game, the club was looking forward it its ‘Oktober Fest’ and Cow Pat Lotto social event on Sunday, June 9.
“We’re looking for another good social event at the club and hope to see everyone get around it,” Beard said.
The Simpson reserves earned a convincing win, running out 13.8 (86) winners over South Colac reserves 5.8 (38).
Best players were Cooper Neal, Darcy Thorburn, Luke Ranno, Daniel Wright, Jonathon Jennings and Jaryd Duynhoven.
Jonathon Jennings led the way with five goals, with Bridie Neale (4), Thorburn (2), Cody Mason and David Weel (1) rounding out the goal kickers.
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