A game of two halves

[Andre]

Yes, the Eagles had injuries coming in and copped more during the match, but the game started turning, IMO, in the 3rd BEFORE Cousins went down when we started backing ourselves. We've seen it too many times this year, when we try to outsmart the opposition or try and contain a run we just get into more trouble.

You could almost see them saying to themselves after they got 4 goals down '**** it, the only way we're going to win from here is to attack, attack, attack' and low and behold players barely sighted for two and a half quarters got into the game.

Though watching it on the TV Cometti is right - we are THE WORST side at running down the clock. As usual we conceded goals trying to do it and it almost cost us the game. We got back in playing attacking footy and then stopped.

Still with the extra week off to get the likes of Brogan and Wilbur fully rested up and our youngsters now knowing you can't expect any easy possessions in finals we'll do better in the prelim., but I reckon the guys were lucky Choco rushed away, as quite a few were due a blast despite the win.

[Macca19]

At half time I was almost resigned to the fact we would be playing again next week. 8 minutes in and the feeling was all but justified. When we pulled the finger out and gave it our best. Great stuff! Nothing but pride!

[PJ Power]

I'm a bit like Andre.

At the start of the third, when they got their first two goals from LeCras and Judd, I was almost willing them to kick another to extend the lead to four goals.
To me, it seemed like the only way our guys would actually switch on and realise they had to make the play, not wait for something to happen.

We got desperate again. We started competing and scragging and making sure if we couldn't win the stoppages, then there would be a second ball-up.

Then when we had all the momentum with four minutes to go in the game, Cornes Sr with his tempo tactics, almost found a way to hand it back to them - twice in the one play!

I have very little fear about us rising to the challenge when we are within 3-4 goals of an opponent with a quarter or more to play.

[Porthos]

Its very hard to walk the line between `backing yourselves in' and `FIGJAM', but we've done a fair job of it so far. I'd like to see more running with the ball when a tackle isn't actually imminent.

[RussellEbertHandball]

Should have been 5 down at half time. But we should have converted about 5 to 8 of those set shots that were points or on the full. We kicked 8 on the fulls to 1. I rckon 4 were set shots at goal and Wilbur's effort on the run. Bad luck.