Round 7 Reserves Match Report

Eagles 9.9 (63) def Norwood 6.8 (44)
Goal Scorers: Armfield 3. Haylock 2, Nason 2, Commitogianni, Westbrook
Best Players: Boyd, Commitogianni, Haylock, Mead, Guilhaus, Pedlar

Coming off the bye and a very good win the week before I was excited to see how the reserves went about their business. The training standards had lifted and I felt that we had the right plan in place to achieve the result.

The first quarter although tight on the scoreboard we had plenty of inside 50’s but could not quite capitalise. I thought the pressure from the forwards and mids was exceptional and our defenders intercepted everything that came their way.

As a young side can have at times they floated through parts of the second quarter and we were unable to take advantage of some of the great transition football from defence.

Coming into the third quarter we knew our backs were going to be up against it with 2 players injured. We spoke about looking after one another and as a coach the response of the team in the second half was outstanding. For the majority of the half we played with 19 men and a few players had to play roles for the team in positions they would not have played before.

The maturity of a young group with some very good experienced heads around them to adapt to a situation was outstanding and puts us in a very good position for the second half of the year. After that win over Norwood we sit with a 5-2 win loss record in second place on the ladder and with a real appetite to continue to grow as footballers.

Vinnie Rugolo
Reserves Head Coach