Season just became tougher for Bond
tom.thomas@news.com.au
The club had made gradual improvement in recent seasons, giving hope for 2017.
Bond finished fifth in 2016, sixth in 2015 and seven the season before that.
But even Hedger has been left without answers to the drop in form so far this year.
“When they play to their best ability they are more than competitive and they have just got to find the want and desire to do it at the moment,” Hedger said.
“It doesn’t seem to be existing. We have never been table toppers but we don’t know what the problem is. You don’t want to ever go backwards.
“Our aim this year was to make the top four so we haven’t quite got there and it’s going to be difficult to do that from here.
“It’s getting to the stage nearly where every game is a grand final.”
The absence of quality backs from last year and the five Australian under-20 players – set to be on representative duty until the final five games – are obvious problems.
But Hedger insisted he still had the squad to replicate last year’s form or go one better as he tried to keep his side within touching distance before reinforcements arrive.
“Finals is still achievable – that’s the bottom line because it’s a very tight competition,” he said.
The gap between Bond and their rivals on the ladder could increase this weekend with the side having a bye.
While valuable points will be missed, the break gives Hedger time to work through the team’s problems as he prepares training.
“We have got the ability to have a big training week in order to prepare for the next game,” he said.
Hedger said Bond were their own worst enemy against Easts with a raft of individual errors in the first half making them chase from the start.
“We we were behind the eight ball,” Hedger sad.
“The second half was better than the first as far as performance went.
“We had a bit more energy and intensity.” for a big week or