It's certainly frustrating to know we've been in a position to win all three of our games this season but we've got nothing to show for it. Just as frustrating is that in each game, it's been a lapse in one quarter that has brought about our downfall.
For the second week in succession, the game was lost in the third quarter. A hard-fought 10-point half-time lead was turned into a 12-point deficit at the last change, with the Hawks' top-shelf midfield slowly wresting our ascendancy away.
That 12-point deficit had stretched out to almost five goals by midway through the final term, but despite a late rally, a 21-point loss was probably a fair reflection of how the game panned out over the four quarters.
As much as that third quarter lapse was the most damaging to our hopes of victory, you could actually point to our inability to take our chances when we had the upper hand as a key factor in the loss.
Again, we were wasteful in front of goal in an otherwise encouraging opening quarter. We went into our forward 50-metre arc 19 times – almost twice as many times as the Hawks – but managed only 2.4. Six shots at goal from 19 entries was as much a reflection of our inability to find a target within range as it was of how much we miss Nathan Thompson up forward.
In a match light on for genuine positives for the Roos, Daniel Harris was notable for playing a huge game right across the four quarters. His tireless efforts in the first half played a huge role in our half-time lead. The fact that he racked up 15 tackles – almost a quarter of the Roos' entire team total – says volumes about his work ethic.
The form of rookie elevation Matt Campbell, in just his second game, was also encouraging. The diminutive Northern Territorian was finally rewarded in the last quarter after a hard-working yet largely unproductive first half. His left-foot snap from 35m late in the final term was a reminder of his reputation around goal.
Our core defensive unit of Shannon Watt, Michael Firrito, Drew Petrie and Josh Gibson were also solid for most of the game. The late goalkicking heroics of dangermen Buddy Franklin and Mark Williams were less to do with the defensive work of the backline and more to do with the increased opportunities created by a rampant Hawthorn midfield.
Next week, it's on to our first home game at Carrara for premiership points. Hopefully the free-flowing, attacking style that characterised our opening two performances will be back on show.
A reason to feel more confident is the knowledge that some our seasoned stars – like Shannon Grant and Corey Jones – can't have much quieter games than they did at the weekend, and that Daniel Wells is looking closer and closer to ripping a game apart. He has form against the Lions and with a 0-3 start to the season, there would be no better time for him to step up to the plate for a full four-quarter performance.
