General News
3 July, 2019
Second half lapse costly for Bloods
TERANG Mortlake coach Michael Sargeant says last Saturday’s defeat to Warrnambool was his side’s “worst loss of the year”.
TERANG Mortlake coach Michael Sargeant says last Saturday’s defeat to Warrnambool was his side’s “worst loss of the year”.
The Bloods were humbled in the second half by the third placed Blues at Reid Oval, with the home side kicking away to record a 19.19 (133) to 7.7 (49) win after leading by just five points at half-time.
Sargeant said he was “really disappointed” with the result after the Bloods had matched, if not bettered, the Blues in the opening half.
“To be playing so well in the first half and then to come out a completely different side in the second was really disappointing,” Sargeant said.
“The first half we were dominating clearances and loose balls and everything, we probably could have made more of opportunities.
“But after half-time it was just two different sides, they lifted their work-rate and we went backwards.”
Sargeant said it was disappointing that the Bloods “kind of went away from what we were doing” in the second half, but he added there was plenty of positives to take out of the first half effort.
He said they again showed their best in patches, but lamented an inability to sustain it for longer periods.
“It was the brand of footy that over the last month to six weeks we’ve been pushing towards,” he said.
“It’s there for them, but it’s just the old saying that you have to do it for four quarters that we need to do.”
The defeat also coincided with Sargeant officially announcing post match that 2019 would be his last as senior coach of the club.
The mentor said both he and the club thought it was the right time to make the announcement and put the Terang Mortlake name out there, given they had internally commenced the search for their next leader.
Sargeant said that while his three year tenure may not have produced the results in terms of the win-loss column, he felt he had helped the club make great strides forward.
“The first year we went above expectations a little bit and played some really good footy,” he said.
“Last year was a bit of an indifferent year, we played some good footy and some bad footy and had some injuries.
“And this year, as tough as it has been, there’s been some good growth within the group.
“If you work on wins and losses it hasn’t been great, but it’s definitely been positive in other areas.”
Sargeant said he was keen to add more wins to the Bloods record before his time is up, while also adding that he would look to blood more new faces in the final rounds.
“We’ll definitely look to, if their form warrants it, give some other guys some opportunities but those guys have to earn them,” he said.
“The main aim is to win more games and I’m determined to do that, we’ve got a blueprint to play at our best and that’s where we’re heading towards.”