The result gave Reserves Coach Nathan Clarke and his young team a much-needed confidence boost after months of hard work and competitive efforts which had been largely unrewarded on the scoreboard.
“It was terrific,” Clarke said.
“They had a really good second quarter, but we fought our way back in the third.”
“But in the last quarter, we were going against the scoring end and I honestly didn’t think we’d done enough to hold on.”
“We got out to 10 points in front early in the last quarter - similar to the Swans game earlier in the season - and made a decision to stack our backline a bit.”
“I think we had five listed players - including Richy - in our back six for the majority of the last quarter. They did a terrific job and saved us on numerous occasions. It truly was a great defensive effort.”
“I couldn’t help but think that it wasn’t the same Gold Coast team we had played only a few weeks ago at Metricon Stadium. Maybe it was the travel up the highway, or maybe it was just a credit to our guys who played really well.”
The win could have been secured earlier in the day if not for some wayward kicking in front of goal which kept the SUNS within reach.
“The final score was 11.17 to 12.7 so we certainly had our chances,” Clarke said.
“On the boundary there seemed to be very little wind, a gentle breeze at most. But anyone who’s been to games at Coorparoo knows it can be tricky at times.”
“I reckon Bryce Retzlaff kicked six or seven behinds and at least one out of bounds on the full. But Bryce played so well. He was outstanding in the first half and could have easily won the game off his own boot by half-time.”
Clarke credited an even team performance for the breakthrough win.
“It was hard to select our best players after the game because it such a good, even performance,” he said.
“Amon Buchanan and Ryan Harwood were exceptional with their hard-ball gets and clearances, while big Broc McCauley played his best game in some time.”
“Daniel Rich was clearly above the level and Collier controlled things down back.”
“Josh Dyson certainly showed the benefits of playing a week in the top grade. He looks far more comfortable and I would love to see him get another go at playing seniors before the season ends.”
The Lions Reserves will play their final match of the 2011 NEAFL season this Saturday against the Sydney Swans Reserves at Blacktown.
While the imminent early off-season is disappointing, Clarke believes the Lions’ ladder position isn’t an accurate reflection of their standing in the competition.
“I was speaking with one of our young guys the other day and we went through the top five teams that will be playing off in the Northern Conference Finals and realised we weren’t far off,” he said.
“We got within 10 points of minor Premiers NT Thunder, lost by five points to second-placed Mt Gravatt, have beaten the Gold Coast SUNS, lost to fourth-placed Broadbeach by five points and drew with fifth-placed Morningside.”
“Some of those close losses just haven’t gone our way.
“Now we come up against the Swans who are quite a formidable outfit.”
“I know a bit about them having coached against them in Canberra and their style doesn’t seem to have changed too much with John Longmire in charge.”
“They play a really strong brad of contested footy, so it will be another challenge for our boys.”
