‘We’re not bulletproof’: Thomson co-coach after loss
THOMSON co-coach Reece Holwell says Saturday’s loss to Werribee Centrals shows the Tigers are “far from bulletproof”.
The reigning premier dropped its first game of the season in stunning fashion, smashed in all facets of the game for three quarters as the Centurions prevailed 12.11 (83) to 4.8 (32) at Galvin Park.
There were few positives, if any, for Holwell, who said he did not buy into the concept his previously undefeated side needed a loss ahead of finals.
“We’ll look back at this and learn a lot from this,” Holwell said. “In a way, it’s a bit of a wake-up call for us. We’re far from bulletproof and that was shown today.
“We’re just really disappointed with the first three quarters, especially the way we went about it in the first.”
The Centurions won battles across the ground, particularly at the stoppages, moved the ball better and won crucial one-on-ones.
“Full credit to them, they came to play,” Holwell said of Werribee.
“They had an unbelievable start, marked everything that went deep into their forward 50 and they were accurate and put the score on the board early.”
“We just couldn’t find our groove ... They really deserved to win, and for us to kick our first goal in the last quarter, credit to their defence.”
But Holwell said his side had the ability to reverse the result if they met again in finals.
“We’ve just got to do our homework and be ready if we face them again,” he said.
“They’re the in-form side and their results show they’re up and about at the moment.”
Thomson captain Sam Jacka was reported and sent off the ground in the final term for a late bump, but the club is hopeful the report will be thrown out.