Hurstbridge upbeat in defeat after pushing flag favourite Lalor in Saturday’s semi-final

HURSTBRIDGE coach Michael Ryan says his side can take a lot out of Saturday’s defeat to Lalor in the Northern Football League Division 2 semi-final.

NFL footy: Lalor V Hurstbridge. Pictured is Hurstbridge #22 Brayden Shaw (ball) Picture: Paul Loughnan

THE scoreline shows a 38-point gap between Lalor and Hurstbridge from Saturday’s Division 2 semi-final.

But there was more encouragement than that suggests for the Bridges at Epping Recreation Reserve as they gave the flag favourite plenty to think about before a fourth-quarter fade.

Hurstbridge led by 15 points in the second quarter and trailed by just nine entering the last before losing 14.14 (98) to 9.6 (60).

“There’s a lot we can take from the game,” said coach Michael Ryan. “It was a first final for a lot of our guys and a few of them were a little bit overawed maybe.

“Lalor deserved to win. We almost conceded the game in the last 10 minutes, which was disappointing.”

Prior to losing that last term by six goals to one, Hurstbridge had some superb spells.

Full-back Tony Heron was excellent in keeping dangerman Todd Hughes to one goal. Ryan also praised John Kreuzer, Riley Reading and Jarrod Tilley and said teenagers Tom Simpson and Lachlan East made important contributions.

Lalor scored four goals to one early on but a goal from Brayden Shaw and two from Simpson put the Bridges ahead at quarter-time.

Chris Burton and Reading stretched that lead before Lalor scored four on the trot to regain the initiative.

Ryan’s men edged the third two goals to one before losing their grip in the last. That leaves them facing a preliminary final against Whittlesea on Saturday.

“We’re still very confident but we have to keep our standards up for four quarters,” Ryan said.