This week Team GWS traveled to Melbourne to take on Gippsland Power. Unfortunately the Power proved too strong downing GWS by 118 points.
In what proved to be a tough contest, a very young Team GWS were out classed by a bigger and stronger Gippsland team.
GWS again had ten players selected for the NSW/ACT Rams representative side, which forced Head Coach Alan McConnell to choose a very young side not dissimilar to last rounds team who put in an impressive performance against the Stingrays.
Unfortunately the GWS boys were unable to reciprocate that performance this week, with Gippsland proving that they are a much better side then the ladder shows them to be.
McConnell said that the result was a learning curve for the boys.
“We had 16 of our 22 players being underage, which is a massive number and its hard for the young boys playing people a couple of years older than them.
“Despite losing it was an opportunity for the young guys to see what it could be like to play AFL footy.” Team GWS was unable to create the flow that they demonstrated against the Stingrays resulting in the bigger Gippsland side being too physical and dominating the boys on and off the ball.
GWS were able to put together some short passages of play they showed that they are a skilled side, with Jonathan Gourlay kicking two goals as well as Damon Steer and Jackson Dwyer getting another one each on the board.
However these passages didn’t happen enough with McConnell labeling the boys’ use of the footy as something they need to improve on.
“We were able to get our hands on the footy, but we just couldn't create and space or flow resulting in contested possessions, where they were just too strong.”
A positive was the consistent form of midfielders Nick Collins, Jed Anderson and Daniel Cooper, who are continuing to play skilled and mature which is improving every week.
“These players have shown that they deserve to be in the side, they are natural leaders and have good attack on the ball,” said McConnell, noting the young players as a good future for the club.
The loss is a disappointing result for the team, who need to fix their communication in game play and find better and faster use of the footy in contested possessions.
McConnell said that Team GWS will learn from this, and will be better off for it in the future.
“The feeling of losing like this stays with a player and makes them want to be better as a team and as an Individual.”
Team GWS put in a solid effort however unfortunately were not experienced enough to come out on top, going down by 118 points to an impressive Gippsland side.
Team GWS 4.4.28
Gippsland Power 21.20.146
Goal Kickers: J. Gourlay 2, D. Steer, J. Dwyer
Best Players: D. Cooper, C. BERNASCONI, N. Collins, J. Anderson, O. Tweeddale, D. Steer
