General News
7 July, 2021
Tigers improve despite back-to-back defeats
THEY may have endured successive defeats to the same opponent, but Simpson co-coaches Tom Leishman and Nick Harding were pleased with their side’s effort over the last two weeks.
THEY may have endured successive defeats to the same opponent, but Simpson co-coaches Tom Leishman and Nick Harding were pleased with their side’s effort over the last two weeks.
The Tigers capped off one of the more uncommon fixturing alterations in recent time on Saturday when they completed the second leg of back-to-back matches against Alvie.
While it is common for sides to play each other in the final round of the home and away season and then in the first week of finals, the two clubs played two home and away rounds against each other in the space of 14 days after the proposed round three clash was rescheduled to the Colac and District league’s bye weekend due to COVID.
The first clash saw Alvie triumph by 89 points at Alvie on June 27, before the Tigers put up a more spirited display at Simpson Recreation Reserve despite losing 9.5 (59) to 4.5 (29) on Saturday, an improvement which pleased Leishman.
“When we played at Alvie they beat us pretty convincingly, by 80 or 90 points or something but we spoke to the boys and said we were right in the contest, the scoreboard didn’t reflect it,” he said.
“We only had two less clearances and were a handful of inside 50s off them so we just spoke about needing to take our opportunities during the week.
“When they came to Simpson on the weekend we were right in the contest for the majority of the game. When the rain came we couldn’t keep them out and they kicked away from us.
“But it was a big improvement to go from losing by 90 points to going down by 30 with a very different side.”
While disappointed not to get the points, Leishman said he was pleased to hand a debut to under 18 Kristofer Gristede.
“He came on and played a role and kicked a goal,” Leishman said.
“He did everything we asked of him and he even took on a run-with role late in the game and really held his own which was good.
“It’s pretty exciting to give guys their first opportunity at senior level, Bobby is a good kid and does everything around the club so it was good to reward him.”
The Tigers are now preparing to face South Colac at Simpson this weekend.
“It doesn’t get any easier,” Leishman said of the match-up.
“South is a really good side, Alvie is the benchmark but out of the side’s we’ve played they were the one I was most impressed with.
“They were pretty good earlier in the year so we’re expecting a tough hit-out that’s for sure.”
The match will double as the annual Mental Health Game between the two clubs.
“This game means a fair bit to both clubs, especially ours with the passing of Goosey (James) Guy, Shaun Guy’s old man,” Leishman said.
“It’s one we always get up for so hopefully it’s a good day.”