CROWS ATTACK
Back home at Cook Park and we faced our grand final opponents Penrith Swans for the 2nd time this year. At our previous encounter we opened the game in great style taking a lead of nearly 30 points into the first break. The Swans being such a competitive team that never gives us fought back and kicked 6 goals in the last quarter to beat us by 7 points. We needed to change our approach and intensity today especially in the last quarter as we have lost them all this year.
The day was fine but a chilly with a strong breeze blowing across the ground that gave the team kicking towards the pavilion a slight advantage. Penrith won the toss and kicked this way. From the first bounce our centres got on the ball quickly and drove us into attack. The defence across the oval was tight as we kept the ball in our forwards. Our backs were also keeping the Swans at bay and it was only a few penalties that got the Swans deep into attack. At the end of the first quarter we had kicked 4 behinds to 1 behind.
At the break we talked about maintaining our pressure and getting to the ball first. The boys had listened and in this quarter played some of our best footy of the year. The wind made kicking straight a bit hard so marks were hard to get but we crumbed the ball well and started to do the little things right with shepherds, smothers and tackles although some were judged high. At the long break we had kicked 3 goals 8 behinds to 2 behinds.
The discussion again at the main break was about keeping our foot down and not letting up. The Swans running with the wind corrected their errors of the first quarter and used the advantage a lot better. We also managed to move forward into the wind but we were starting to rush some of our decisions by playing on and not looking for the best option. The Swans kicked their first goal of the game after receiving a penalty and had the ball in their forwards for long periods but our backs Kyle, Blake P, Brock, Blake G, Mandev, Daniel, Ryan and Cain along with our centres did a fantastic job of keeping them to only 3 more behinds. At the end of the 3rd we had our halftime score of 3 goals 8 behinds to 1 goal 5 behinds.
The tester was now the last quarter. We spoke to the boys about thinking about their decisions, not rushing and keeping up the intensity, we wanted to be first to the ball. If we ever needed to win a last quarter we needed to do it today. The boys listened once again, (thank goodness) and they more than matched the Swans around the ground. We totally dominated the possessions which frustrated the Swans with some of their players starting to employ niggling tactics. Our boys rose above this and continued to show total focus on the ball. We kicked only one more goal with 5 behinds to finish with 4 goals 13 behinds 37 to 1 goal 5 behinds 11. The only disappointing aspect being some easy goals we missed.
Our new centre combo of Lio, Etienne, Corey, Matty, Cain proved to be a handful for the Swans. Our forwards Lachlan, Oskar, Budhi, Toby, Rowan, Ritchie, Tyler showed they can make the opposition backs life hard with some good teamwork and the varying size and skills. Today was a great example of a team effort. Work together, focus on the same goal and rewards will come.
See you all at Cook Park Saturday 2nd June at 9.45am vs Emu Plains/GMP Maroon.
John, Geoff and Graham
Last Modified on 29/05/2012 21:09