Bell Park coaches go back to the drawing board

BELL Park co-coach Luke Rayner, pictured, says he is at a loss to explain how his side gave up seven first-quarter goals to St Mary’s.

The Dragons were unable to register a single score as the Saints stormed to a 48point lead by the first change.

Despite a stronger showing from that point on, outscoring the Saints for the final three quarters, Rayner believes a post-mortem of the opening term is required.

“I couldn’t stand here and say I’ve got the answer,” he said.

“We’re going to have to look at the first quarter and look at how we started in terms of our own preparation, individually and collectively.

“At the end of the day, you’ve got to start these games well against quality opposition, and if you don’t you get done.”

Bell Park outscored the Saints 10 goals to seven after quarter-time, showing much more composure and not allowing St Mary’s the time and space they crave thanks to resolute defenders Paddy Bright and Kristian Bucovaz.

But Rayner said he and cocoach Tim Sheringham would place a greater focus on what went wrong, rather than what went right.

“We’re nowhere near where we hopefully can get to by the end of the season, so that becomes our goal and our aim,” he said. “We were no good in the contest and no good in the uncontested footy in that first quarter — we were absolutely demolished for a quarter.

“We know we can be competitive with the good sides, but you can’t do it for three quarters.