Lions go down against two premiership contenders but remain focused on prize

Despite back-to-back losses Huonville Lions coach Callen Daly isn’t panicking. He gives an insight into the challenges and why his side got the “raw end of the stick”.

Huonville Lions coach Callen Daly says it isn’t “panic stations” for his side despite consecutive defeats to fellow premiership contenders.

The Lions were “beaten up” by Lindisfarne, according to Daly in round 11 and went down to an inspired Dodges Ferry in round 12.

Daly said it is a common thing for people to start thinking about.

“It happens, you lose a couple of games and people start thinking about panic stations,” Daly said.

“We were beaten up by Lindisfarne, they are a really good side and there is no better way to put that.

“Then against Dodges, they have become a serious team this year and up at their home deck was always going to be tough.

SFL Community League – Huonville Lions captain Jack Preshaw in action against Dodges Ferry at Shark Park. Picture: Jake Garland

“We played a very good first half, we lost Cameron Johns in the first half and then we tried a few things and they got the better of us in the second half.”

The Lions are currently missing Tom Wright, Rhys Douglas, Daly, Ethan Brock and Cameron Johns from their starting line-up.

Having slipped to third on the ladder and a game ahead of Lindisfarne (fourth) and Sorell (fifth) Daly knows his side can hit their straps leading into finals.

“Those players will just slot straight back into the senior side and no other senior side in our comp has that quality of players out,” Daly said.

“So I think we have got a lot of upside, it’s just putting it all together with four games to go is going to be the tricky part.”

Huonville will tackle Claremont and hopefully return to the winners list before travelling to Sorell, Cygnet and then hosting Lindisfarne in the final round of the home and away season.

“Pretty brutal isn’t it? We got the raw end of the stick, we get to play Cygnet and Lindisfarne three times, no other team has to do that,” Daly said.

“I mean we’re up against it in that way but we know if we play our best footy that we can compete and match them.

“We’ve got to fix a couple of things, we’re going to look a little bit different moving forward with some personnel and some positional changes as well which is really exciting.

“But we are in a good position, we just need to finish strong.”

‘Play our game’: Sharks given license to go hunting

Dodges Ferry have sent a statement to the SFL Community League competition that the Sharks are coming after a strong win against premiership contender Huonville Lions at Shark Park.

The Sharks piled on eight goals in the third quarter as they ran over the top of the Lions to claim an 18.8 (116) to 14.8 (92).

It felt like two different teams in the two halves as the Lions were in control of the game in the first half, causing turnovers and plenty of mistakes for the Sharks.

Sharks coach Jesse Tegg said he challenged his side at half time.

“We were tense and I just said to the boys that they didn’t need to be tense, just play our game,” Tegg said.

“That was what we did after half time and it was amazing to see how different we play when we play with the freedom.

SFL Community League – Dodges Ferry's Brad Joseph during the clash against Huonville Lions at Shark Park. Picture: Jake Garland

“They are a classy outfit Huonville, we knew they were going to be tough to beat but credit to our boys who understood that, yes the occasion might have gotten to them in the first half but the second half is how we want to play footy.

“That was our best quarter of footy and probably our best second half of footy we have played all season.”

The win leapfrogs the Sharks into second spot, knocking the Lions down to third.

For the Lions, they have now lost two games in a row against top four sides in the Sharks and Lindisfarne before the bye.

SFL Community League – Dodges Ferry forward Connor McGee kicks a goal in the final quarter against Huonville Lions at Shark Park. Picture: Jake Garland

Sharks’ Brad Joseph was dominant booting a game high six goals for the home side while Michael Paul booted four goals for the Lions.

It was the fast running of the Sharks which changed the game in the second half which could be the blue print to how to knock off the Lions.

“We pride ourselves on the running and handball game rather than just bombing long and that opens up the game,” Tegg said.

“When we played them (Huonville) down there they sort of bullied us around the contest and we just weren’t able to play our game.

“But it is something we really have worked on and we want to continue to play that style of footy going forward.”

Around the grounds, Claremont’s Jye Graham’s seven goals wasn’t enough to led them to victory over Hobart as the Tigers managed a 39-point win with the Magpies still chase their first win of the season.

Sorell held on to claim a 13-point win over New Norfolk to lock out the finals race.

While Cygnet remain undefeated after coming from behind to defeat major rivals Lindisfarne who sit fourth.

Originally published as Lions go down against two premiership contenders but remain focused on prize