Coach Jarrad Forlonge in his element warming up before the game.
The Yass Roos fought valiantly over the weekend, but were no match for one of the premiership favourites Batemans Bay Seahawks over the weekend going down 10.11.71 – 5.5.35. The Roos got off to a hot start managing to lead the first quarter before eventually fading against a fit Seahawks side.
Coach Jarrad Forlonge was pleased with his side’s effort.
“They lost in the grand final last year after being the best team all year. They only lost two games last year and then lost the grand final by five points. We always knew going into this year they were going to be one of the big dogs of the competition and it kind of proved that way on the weekend,” Jarrad said.
“We started the game well. We were up by ten points at quarter time. Through the middle, we didn’t quite stick to our game plan as well as what we did at the start and allowed them to get some momentum.
“Watching the game back I think we were right in it other than a period in the third quarter where they kicked a few goals and got a bit of a gap on us.
“Other than that we always felt like we could match it with them. We need to learn to do it over the whole course of the game, not just for periods, there were a lot of positives regardless.
Forlonge says he’s pleased with how his young side is progressing in a tougher comp.
“We’ve got a pretty young team this year and we are up in class a little bit this year as well, whereas last year we could afford to play not our best footy and have lapses and we would still win games whereas this year I think we are learning how to play high-level football week in week out for the whole four quarters. So I think we’re only going to get better from playing teams like this and getting better,” he said.
“We’ve had a tough start to the year with the teams played. It’s been good, it’s been fun and we’re learning a lot. We look forward to playing these teams again later on in the season and seeing how we go.”
The Roos will play a grand final this weekend in Murrumbateman when they play host to the Eastlake Demons.
“Eastlake are the team that beat us in the grand final last year. Internally we had this one circled for a while, it’s a chance to get back at them after what happened last year,” a vengeance-seeking Forlonge said.
“I think looking at results they are going okay. They are in a similar boat to us to start the year. It’s a pretty big game for us early in the year. We expect to be fighting with them and a few other teams for the last couple of finals spots. So to win early in the year against them; a) a bit of revenge, and b) to set us up for the year ahead. It’s a pretty big game for us.
“We must work on our consistency and ensure that we play our best footy from start to finish and don’t have lapses throughout the game.
“I think we did that pretty well against ANU a couple of weeks ago and with the Easter break. That didn’t help a lot coming into this week. I’d be hoping and expecting that we can play high-level consistent football for the whole game and realistically that’s what we need to do to compete at this level, so that’s a big focus for us.
“We would certainly hope so. It’s not a big deal to take a home game out to Murrumbateman even if it is fifteen minutes up the road. They have to do it to take home games out to Yass as well, it’s just an unfortunate way that the draw is set up. It’s not ideal, it may affect some people but we certainly hope that people can continue to come out and support us. I think the fact that you have the women’s on at 10 o’clock and afternoon with both of our games back to back will all be over by about 2 o’clock and that works in our favour people can make the trip but hopefully if nothing else maybe the Murrumbateman crowd might get behind us as the home team and their sort of the buddy team for the year as well that might work in our favour that way as well.
“They had to forfeit last week with two long weekends back to back and a travel day, just a few things weren’t working in our favour just to get the numbers fully up this week. I think moving forward now having all the games within the regionwe shouldn’t have that issue any more. It was just unfortunate timing.”
The first bounce will commence at noon on Saturday at Murrumbateman Park.
-Tully Potts
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