Gallant Tigers aiming to be quick learners
AS far as losses go, Colac’s lesson this week involved as many positives as possible.
Coming up against a rampaging Joeys side, the Tigers proved they belong in the top five with a gutsy late fightback after being taught an early lesson.
Coach Kane Leersen picked out the composure of the opposition as clear points of difference between the teams and something the young squad will take out of the contest.
“They’d finished us off halfway through the second quarter and they’re quality opposition, clearly the best we’ve played this year, so it was a good lesson for some of the younger guys,” Leersen said.
“Our intent was there — we were just lacking composure at times, their ball use going forward was exceptional and their overlap run.
“They’re composed, they take half a second to make sure they hit that easy kick but they’ve played like that for a few years and it is up to us to win the contest first and control our possession.”
Forward Jake McGuane and Leersen sat out most of the second half with injuries, while George Steven was sent off in the final quarter after an incident involving Ben McNamara.
While short on numbers, Colac wasn’t short on legs on the field, holding St Joseph’s goalless in the final term and winning admirers.
“There are lots of positives to take out of it, we really didn’t have a bench in the second half and we ground it out,” Leersen said.
“We’ll never be happy with losing regardless but as long as there is intent it’s all right.
“We probably had excuses to let them run all over us and we didn’t so I was proud with the effort in the second half.”
Leersen said the injuries were “just niggles”, however the club will consider an offer of one match put forth for Steven.
The midfielder arrived late after McNamara marked, collecting the body and leaving McNamara dazed but uninjured.
St Joseph’s coach Heath Jamieson put his support behind the opposition.
“We were obviously a fair way away from the incident but we didn’t think there was anything in it at all,” he said.