Tigers sink boot into Bloods’ finals hopes
GLENELG has won three consecutive games for the first time in more than a year to effectively end West Adelaide’s finals hopes.
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GLENELG has won three consecutive games for the first time in more than a year to effectively end West Adelaide’s finals hopes.
Bloods coach Gavin Colville conceded his side needed a miracle to play finals after its 29-point loss at the Bay yesterday left it three wins and a healthy dose of percentage outside of the top five with three rounds to play.
“I'm really disappointed with that performance and we got what we deserved, I’m not sure we deserve to be playing finals football on that display,’’ said Colville.
“Full credit to the opposition because they played better than us but our skills were below SANFL standard.
“We turned the ball over, we were slow and indecisive. We didn't come with a contested mindset and we paid the price.
“We need to get a lot better to play finals and that’s the challenge ahead of us.’’
Glenelg, which joined the Bloods on six wins and jumped ahead of them on the premiership table on percentage with its convincing triumph, had not won three straight matches since rounds seven to nine last year.
It set up its victory in the second quarter when it kicked four goals without reply to jump to a 32-point lead at the long break.
With the strong-marking Chris Burgess bagging three goals in the third quarter, West gave itself a chance when it drew to within 16 points in the final term but the Tigers lifted under pressure to kick clear.
Key defender Chris Curran was outstanding for the home side with 32 disposals and 14 marks while classy forward Luke Reynolds — an elite kick — bagged five goals following his six against his former club Port Adelaide last week.
Midfielder Matthew Snook (34 disposals), captain Andrew Bradley (22), onballer/forward Darcy Bailey (27) and wingman Carl Nicholson (19 and two goals) were influential while Elliot Chalmers curtailed potential No. 1 draft pick Izak Rankine.
Glenelg coach Mark Stone praised his side for its consistent display and said his players were starting to grasp his defensive structures and play better for longer.
“I was really pleased with the way the guys fought and there were some outstanding efforts at critical times,’’ he said, adding his team had only a “whisker’’ of a finals chance.
“What we are starting to do as a team is produce that for longer periods and we haven’t had a team kick more than 70 points against us in four weeks, which is a really good indicator that our defensive structures are starting to work.
“We’re growing as a team, which is pleasing.’’
Burgess (four goals) and midfielder Aaron Anderson (34 disposals) were West’s best.
SCOREBOARD
GLENELG 3.4 7.8 10.9 13.12 (90)
WEST 2.3 2.6 6.10 8.13 (61)
BEST — Glenelg: Curran, Reynolds, Snook, Bailey, Nicholson, Bradley,
Chalmers. West: Burgess, Anderson, Wasley-Black, Hill, Stevens.
GOALS — Glenelg: Reynolds 5, Nicholson, Hosie 2, T. Milera, Uebergang, Sawford, Scott. West: Burgess 4, Rankine, Beech, Green, Anderson.
UMPIRES — T. Bryce, R. Hundertmark, T. Medlin.