FALCONS ARE BLOWN AWAY
GEELONG’S inability to make the most of the firstquarter breeze proved costly in a 24-point loss to Western Jets.
The Falcons could only muster three goals with the help of what coach Danny O’Keefe described as a “five or six-goal breeze”, conceding more inside-50s to the Jets in the process at a typically blustery Williamstown.
The Jets then managed to keep the Falcons scoreless when they kicked into the breeze.
“We only kicked a couple of goals and led the quarter by five points,” O’Keefe said of his team’s opening term.
“I actually thought it was a five or six-goal breeze and we missed the opportunity to get the jump on Western. It was disappointing.
“We lost the inside-50 count in the first quarter with the breeze so we were behind the eight ball from the start.”
He said the Falcons went into the game wanting to gain territory by foot, rather than by hand.
And while the Falcons won the possession battle, they did not kick the ball enough.
“Western Jets are a heavily kicking side. Knowing the conditions and knowing the opposition, we thought we really needed to kick the ball a lot more,” O’Keefe said.
Sam Walsh and Oscar Brownless put in strong performances, while Ben Morton showed his strength on the inside and finished with a game-high 12 tackles.
Dane Hollenkamp thrived in his role down back.
“Dane also had a gamehigh eight marks and half of them would have been interception marks,” O’Keefe said. “He has had that Harry Taylor-style game.
“The role is still new to him. He is an exciting prospect.”