Injuries end Joeys’ run

ST JOSEPH’S coach Paul Carson says injuries and a lack of confidence hit his side at the wrong time as the double reigning premiers bowed out in Saturday’s preliminary final.

It’s the first GFL Grand Final Joeys have missed since 2016, but their first- year coach kept the 26- point loss to St Mary’s in perspective.

“Form and confidence is massive in this game, and the timing of that is everything,” Carson said after the 13.8 ( 86) to 9.6 ( 60) loss.

“In the past month, we’ve had to play the best team in the competition twice and they’ve beaten us twice. That knocked our confidence around a bit.

“Then you look at the St Mary’s lead- in — they’ve had it a bit softer and have been able to win convincingly, so their confidence was sky- high.

“I still believe our best is good enough, but the reality is we couldn’t put our best team on the park and Colac and St Mary’s are deserving grand finalists.”

After conceding five goals to one in the first quarter, St Joseph’s gradually fought back to trail by 15 points at the final change.

Carson believed his side was “a sniff” midway through the final quarter when the margin was cut to eight points, before the Saints held their nerve against a side that has beaten them on the big stage before.

“History would show that if we were able to hit the front there, anything could happen,” Carson said.

“But I don’t think we kicked two goals in a row. It’s a tough game, and plenty of teams would be rapt to play in a prelim, so we’re really happy with the result this year.”

Jackson Davis was the lone multiple goal- kicker for Joeys, with key defenders Ben McNamara and James Hickey their best in a side that was down on midfield power with Brenton Rees and Brant Haintz ruled out through injury.