Payneham 7 10 def Walkerville 4 7

This was a similar test to last week, but we weren’t up to the challenge this time. We can paint any picture we like if we are looking for excuses – but if we are looking for reasons, we need look no further than a failure to have ourselves sufficiently prepared, from the coach down.

We were again slow to realise the need for all out commitment. We had different players who failed to stick tackles, who dropped easy marks, who stayed on the ground too long when a second effort was needed, who made too little effort to present for or support their team mate, who kicked wide to pockets because they forgot that our aim is to threaten the goal face whenever we can, who failed to lift their leg on kicks to ensure their kicked cleared the next line. To a man, we failed badly in the need to cover our immediate opponent when the opposition had the ball.

We had a number of players who did some really good work, but no amount of good work can overcome the list of shortfalls in our performance today, not when we were playing one of the main contenders in the competition and a team that had no doubt targeted this match as a major challenge, just as Broadview did last week.

The outcomes?

The coaching staff will now have to think long and hard about our preparation and planning going forward. We will have dropped to second on the ladder now and another loss between now and finals will see us risk losing the double chance.

The players will need to appreciate that a loss like this can be turned to a positive, if they are prepared to reflect on their performance and take steps to ensure they are better prepared next time.

Meanwhile, we play Athelstone next Sunday, 3pm start at home. So we are only a week away from getting the chance to show we have taken steps in the right direction.

See you at training next Thursday boys!

Goal Kickers: Harry Hayward 2, 1 each Callum Wilkie and Zeb Cunningham-Brown

Best Players: Harry Hayward, Harrison Wigg, James Duncan, Zeb Cunningham-Brown, Venkha Sivashanker

Awards: Will Goode, Venkha Sivashanker, Will Van Dissel