While Reserves Coach Nathan Clarke was happy with his team’s performance, he couldn’t help but rue a missed opportunity.
“We were something like seven points up with a few minutes to go and they were able to snatch a draw with a goal inside the last minute,” Clarke said.
“On the bench, we actually thought there was a little bit longer on the clock than there actually was - so I was kicking myself that we didn’t do more to try and save the game.”
“At one stage I heard someone say there were four minutes remaining, but it turned out there was actually only 60 seconds to go.”
“It was no one’s fault, but maybe we could have tried to hold things up a bit sooner.”
Clarke said he was pleased with the way his team was able to respond after being challenged by a quality opposition.
“We spoke at half time about how Morningside was fighting to keep their premiership defence alive and, as we expected, they came out with a renewed vigour,” he said.
“They won five or six centre clearances in a row which put us on the back foot a bit and stymied our ball movement. We became a bit tentative.”
“It took us a while to regroup, but after three quarter time we were much better.”
“I thought we played really well. Some might look at the final score and say that Morningside had more scoring shots, but I reckon at least seven of those were rushed behinds.”
“After the game, a lot of the coaches commented that it was one of the most physical State League games they had seen in some time.”
Clarke said a number of the listed Lions players really stood up and performed well.
“Tom Collier played really well on Kent Abey who is one of the best forwards in the competition,” Clarke said.
“Matt Maguire and Josh Drummond were also good in defence along with Mitch Golby.”
“We were actually planning on running Golby through the middle at some stage, but instead we put Brad Harvey up on a wing to see how he went.”
“It was really good to get Josh Green back as well. I think we had been missing his speed and zip out of congestion. Greeny probably wasn’t at his best after a fairly long lay-off, but he certainly contributed.”
“Callum Bartlett put in probably his most complete performance since coming back from a second knee reconstruction. He got through the whole game and even went forward and kicked a goal.”
“He did the right things at the right time.”
The Lions Reserves will play the Gold Coast at Coorparoo this Saturday at 2pm in a curtain raiser to the senior game. It will be the second time in three weeks that the two teams have faced each other.
“It’s one of those anomalies of the draw,” Clarke said.
“It probably has to do with the fact we play Gold Coast three times and the other two AFL clubs (Sydney and GWS) twice each.”
“I think it’s a good thing. We owe them - just like our seniors do.”
“It’s amazing how much our games seem to reflect what happens with the seniors.”
“So if we can go out there and show some grit, hopefully it sets the tone for the senior game.”
