Desperate Dragons out of form
BELL Park co-coach Luke Rayner admits “we’ve got ourselves into a hole” as the Dragons’ finals hopes were left teetering after Saturday’s 59-point loss to South Barwon.
The loss is the Dragons’ fourth in succession and leaves them seventh on the ladder, two games outside the top five, and puts them in unfamiliar territory having made finals every year since 2014.
“For us at the moment we’re being a Jekyll and Hyde team where we might have too many players picking and choosing when they want to do it and when they don’t want to do it,” Rayner said.
“There’s a big question in that area — when your effort is clearly not there for four quarters. I think you need to be questioned, which we’ve done to the playing group.
“The only way out of it is to work at it.”
After last week’s 104point drubbing to St Joseph’s, Rayner and cocoach Tim Sheringham followed through on Rayner’s promise to “keep searching for the right players who want to play our way”, making four changes, including midfielder James Gow.
However, the Geelong VFL-listed ball-winner lasted little more than 10 minutes after being stretchered off with an apparent serious ankle injury.
To make matters worse, Jack Brauman’s day was also done before half-time after a heavy collision left him unable to come back on.
From there, the Dragons blew a 25-point halftime lead to concede the next 13 goals unanswered.
“Making the five is the furthest thing from my mind,” Rayner said.
“We’ve just got to try and find the solutions immediately … But unfortunately we’re well and truly not in a position to be talking about finals.”