Tigers prepare for ‘full-tilt’ run towards finals
BANNOCKBURN co-coach Peter Riccardi believes his side can still finish in the top five as the Tigers prepare to welcome back Matt Tyquin against Corio this weekend.
The Tigers were well served by veterans Brett Harding, Tom Parsons, Jake Myles and Matt Hoe against Inverleigh, but it was evident the side needed the influence of Tyquin at times in the 8.14 (62) to 18.12 (120) loss.
“They (Inverleigh) obviously deserved to win but I thought we competed pretty well and you couldn’t question our effort,” Riccardi said. “But at times we didn’t have any pressure on some of our kicks, yet still missed targets from 20m away.”
Key forward Kieran Fulton may join Lincoln Peters (ankle), Tim Arklay (knee), Cameron Riccardi and Aaron Barnett (both hamstring) on the sidelines due to a niggle.
“We’ve managed him but we need to get footy in him at the same time, so he’s had an ‘almost’ day,” Riccardi said.
“If he clunks a few early, then we get those extra shots on goal, but instead he had a couple of sodas and all of the sudden they would respond with a goal and put pressure on us. There are guys in the twos that will come up as well, so we’ll get through the next two weeks and then have a week off before going full-tilt before the finals.”
The Tigers are also considering contesting a report on Brent Jacques, who was sent off “for striking an unknown player”.
The alleged incident took place in a congested scuffle just metres away from Riccardi and Milburn after the three-quarter time siren.
“I didn’t see what he did, but he reckons he (Jacques) got hit that many times and then (when) we returned on to the ground, he was the one who was reported,”