Senior coach Luke Beveridge addressed media following the team’s Gather Round defeat to Brisbane at Norwood Oval.
Here are the key talking points.
On the result:
“They’re a good side, Brisbane. We played well in that first half and had most things in our favour – all the things that we talked about pre-game that were going to be important for us to beat them.
“There were some really strong indicators.
“At half-time we talked about how there were no rewards yet, because we knew that they were going to come out with a new vigour.
“Unfortunately they got on top at stoppage, and there were some back-end turnovers from us that fuelled some momentum for them. We just couldn’t go with them as the game went on.
“It was pleasing to come again – I thought Matt Kennedy was complicit in that last quarter just to give us a sniff again...that’s encouraging that we could hang in there.
“They got on top of the contest and in particular the stoppage side of it, which was a strong origin of our momentum in the first half. They took that away from us, so credit to the Lions.
“It’s a shame in many ways but there are some positives to be taken out of it.”
On goal-kicking accuracy:
“I felt like in the first quarter we had enough of the play but missed some chances (in front of goal). Then in the second quarter, maybe through getting better looks, we started to convert.
“Our front and centre work was encouraging and better than it had been.
“In the scheme of things and the game in totality, it matters, but I really thought at the start of the third quarter, it was the turnover stuff that we didn’t need to fuel the Brisbane game again. They got a bit of a spring in their step after that which was difficult to arrest.”
On activating the substitute early:
“When you have the kids playing their first handful of games - obviously Hynesy debuted tonight and Joshy Dolan was our sub and hasn’t played a lot of football - you’re relying on your experience to play four quarters of pretty sturdy football.
“To lose someone with James’ proficiency and experience, maybe that was part of what told in the end of us. The kids aren’t quite ready to see the game out against a team like the Lions.
“I think we had enough experience in other areas but just couldn’t quite get it done.”
On Sam Darcy v Harris Andrews:
“I thought Sam gave us a bit of a lift in the ruck in the last quarter when he went in there for some minutes.
“Harris is so strong – he’s a big man – but I thought Sam had another pretty good game. I’m not sure from afar who gets the points, but they weren’t on each other all night.”
On Marcus Bontempelli:
“The boys had a training session this morning back home – it was some of the guys who are fit and able and some of the guys who are returning.
“By all reports the session went well. We’ll get through the week and see what it looks like.
“I’m never one post-game, especially when you do lose, to start talking about who might come in. I think it’s disrespectful to the group (who just played).
“Marcus is an incredible player and we all know that. As I said, we are on track for Easter Sunday against St Kilda. He got through the session this morning, so nothing has really changed there.”
