Lions learn a tough finals lesson

LEOPOLD coach Guy Morphet (above) has slammed his players for having “too many passengers” and wanting “to do their own thing” during Saturday’s 22-point semifinal loss to St Mary’s at GMHBA Stadium.

Having claimed the minor premiership and enjoyed the first week of finals off, Leopold never looked in the contest as a sharp St Mary’s outfit clawed its way to victory.

It was just Leopold’s second loss of the season, both coming at the hands of St Mary’s, who dished out a 60point hiding in Round 5.

“I just think a lack of intent and effort was the most disappointing thing today,” Morphet said after the game.

“It’s what we pride ourselves on, and we just had too many passengers today and too many blokes who wanted to do their own thing.”

Without captain Sam Hughes (quad), who was a late withdrawal, Leopold was second-best all afternoon and will now have to go through a preliminary final to book a Grand Final berth that previously looked inevitable.

“We knew coming in they like to get high numbers and squirt it forward, and guys weren’t following the structure,” Morphet lamented.

“It was disappointing that a few blokes weren’t willing to follow instructions and we got a bit of a lesson in footy.”

St Mary’s has held Leopold to its two lowest scores of the year in defeats, kicking just six majors on Saturday and four back in Round 5.

On the weekend, the Lions could only register a solitary behind in the third quarter as St Mary’s took control.

“Guys need to learn you can’t turn up to finals football and expect six to eight blokes are going to play well and you’re going to get the result,” Morphet said. “But the group is motivated for success — this is just a bump in the road and we’ll bounce back.”