General News
1 June, 2022
Tigers fall to Eagles after early lead
WOORNDOO MORTLAKE footballers suffered a frustrating defeat when they returned to competition last Saturday after forfeiting all matches the week before due to COVID-19 running rampant through the club.
WOORNDOO MORTLAKE footballers suffered a frustrating defeat when they returned to competition last Saturday after forfeiting all matches the week before due to COVID-19 running rampant through the club.
The Tigers hosted Ararat Eagles, and after dominating the first quarter to lead 6.1 (37) to 2.2 (14) at the first break the visitors began to reassert themselves on the game.
Woorndoo Mortlake went into half-time leading by just a point but struggled through the third quarter as the Eagles kicked four goals to the Tigers’ one.
Woorndoo Mortlake couldn’t make enough inroads in the final term, as both sides kicked two goals to finish the match with Ararat ahead 12.9 (81) to 9.6 (60).
Jesse Horan kicked four goals for the Tigers, while Jordan Buckley added three to his side’s total.
Like many sides in the region’s football and netball leagues, Woorndoo Mortlake has struggled with illness and injury, missing a number of older, more experienced players on the weekend.
“We were missing a few of the older heads,” Tigers coach Tyson Hogan said.
“There’s two or three of them that inject a lot of talk around the ball, and we didn’t have that.
“When we drop off in a game that’s our biggest indicator, all our talk disappears, so a couple of those older blokes can make a big difference.”
Hogan was philosophical about his side’s absences, noting that many teams were struggling to field consistent line-ups.
“We’ve had a couple out crook and we’re still waiting on a few injuries,” he said.
“But you can’t make too many excuses. The best sides have the most depth in their teams."
“You’ve just got to put up with injuries and illness. But getting a few blokes back in the next couple of weeks will help us.”
Tyler Fowler was best on ground for Woorndoo Mortlake, and Hogan praised his application and skill.
“Tyler gave us plenty of run off that half-back flank, he’s had a really good year,” he said.
“Every game he steps up. He injects a lot of run and he’s very silky with the ball.
“If he’s got the ball in our forward line it’s usually getting up at the target.”
Woorndoo Mortlake travel to face Wickliffe Lake Bolac this week, and Hogan said he was keen for his side to get the four points before the bye round the week after.
“It’s hard to judge teams this season, Wickliffe Lake Bolac are definitely strong enough,” he said.
“We’ve just got to take every game as it comes, and what I’m looking for is getting four quarters out of this side.
“It’s the one thing letting us down at the moment, one quarter where we let a team back into the game.
“The bye’s after this round, so it’d be good to go into the bye with a bit of confidence.”
Hogan welcomes back ruckman Haydn Templeton this week and said he would be an important inclusion.
“Wickliffe have picked up a few players, they’re always dangerous,” he said.
“The biggest thing for us is to start winning the game through the midfield, that probably let us down on the weekend.
“Haydn, our ruckman, he’s back this weekend, so we’ll work on the midfield and hopefully get the forward line ticking over.
“Our backline’s been our strongest area for the whole year, so if we can pick it up in the other areas we’ll be laughing.”