AFTER a first quarter lead, South Mildura lost their way on Saturday, defeated by an inaccurate Merbein, who kicked 18 points.
Starting off strong with four goals and two behinds, South Mildura were nine points ahead of Merbein.
The Bulldogs however couldn’t sustain the momentum with a largely inexperienced side, managing to only score a point in the second quarter as the Pies raced on scoring three goals and four point on top of first quarter’s two goals and five points.
After half time, South managed to fight back a little kicking one goal and two points, but could not sustain the half, only scoring one point in the final quarter.
Merbein continued to increase the game’s margin, kicking two goals and one point in the third quarter and two goals and eight points in the fourth quarter.
Merbein co-coach Vinny Rodi said he thought the team had played “pretty well” but wished their accuracy was better.
“We have been working on (accuracy) all year to be honest and last week it was the opposite, we kicked I think 18 to seven,” he said.
“It was disappointing not to be able to put more points on the board yesterday, but we will take the four points (from the win) and we are pretty happy with where we are halfway through the season.”
Acknowledging the nine-point lead South had in the first quarter, Rodi said the team had more opportunities for goal than Merbein but just didn’t get ahead.
“We had more scoring shots than them in the first quarter we just didn’t execute as well as we could have,” he said.
“To their credit, they were very good in the first quarter.
“I think defensively we were really strong after the first quarter, so credit to our back six and wingmen and mid to actually run backwards.”
Rodi said Merbein were feeling confident, coming off the back of three wins against Red Cliffs, Imperials and now South Mildura.
“There is a good feeling around the club and there always has been, but wins definitely help,” he said.
“I think the boys are keen to make amends in the second half of this season and get some more wins on the board to hopefully be there in late August September.”
South Mildura’s top goal scorer for the game, Anthony Gauci, said the Bulldogs just didn’t have as much experience as their opponent and were affected by illness and injury.
“We are a very young side and we have had lots of injuries and illnesses with the flu, especially over the last few weeks, so we had plenty of new players coming up for their first game or early game,” he said.
“It is all new to a lot of them but there was good effort, especially in that first quarter, but obviously Merbein had a few more experienced players who were able to run off well in the second quarter and obviously out score us and beat us on the day.”
Gauci said the game wasn’t all bad, with positives in the form of debut players.
“We had the debut of a fifteen-year-old Hunter Strong who stood up well and played well as well as another debut player Charlie Berry,” he said.
Gauci said the yet-to-win team was on the way to getting their first victory of the season.
“I believe there are some wins in us this year, obviously we only lost by nine points last week to Wentworth, who are unbeaten this year, so we were actually in front with a few minutes to go,” he said.
“But it is just about playing four quarters that is what we are lacking at the moment.
“(We are) just keeping positive for the year, given we are very inexperienced side, and continuing to develop our young players because we see the talent they have.”
South Mildura will face Irymple next week, previously beaten 130 to 39, while Merbein and Robinvale Euston.
“I think round one between us two was a really good hit out, it was a close game and we want to redeem ourselves because they obviously got us in that first game,” Rodi said.
“Whoever wins next week is in the top four, so there is a lot on the line for both teams.”
