As simple as a poor 20

[jirskyr]

I don't think anyone should get too downtrodden, because last night's loss was just the result of a bad 20 mins after half-time.

A couple of dropped balls, a few consecutive penalties, defence a bit off and we were suddenly too far behind.

Tigers also gradually fell into the mistake of letting Melbourne play their touch footy style - fast play the balls, flat passes, fast backlines. At the times we really needed to get up fast and make clean tackles, we failed to do so.

Our combos didn't quite gel tonight, but it was probably our defence that was off the most for that bad period, allowing Melbourne to spread the ball and get quick play the balls.

But like Laurie Daley astutely said, Tigers fans should be encouraged, because a Tigers team of old would have let in many more points in that bad period. Tonight we scrambled and clawed our way back to a respectable end score.

As much as anything, Tigers fans I think are currently most disappointed not with the game, but how much potential a win had. A win over Melb would have catapulted us to just off the top 4, meaning we could really boast that we were top off the next lot of contenders. I don't think anyone can suddenly say we aren't still going well (and much much improved).

I think too Melbourne are a little lucky to not have been penalised more, even though they were already complaining. That team always pushes the boundary of rules until people get fed up and they police it better. Last night it was hands on the footy in the ruck, and it continued all game despite penalties. Maybe next week 10 in the bin may be a better deterrant.

I'm likely to bring back Gibbsie for Heighno if he's fit. Heighno tried hard but his defence lacked a little.

Special mention to Hodgo who was tops again and unlucky not to get a penalty when Kidwell scored from dummy half. If not so honest he probably could have milked it more! Top effort too for those 2 or 3 sideline conversions. Wow.

 

[SouthernTiger]

rubbish we were never in the game. Melborune did not play very well yet we managed to let them control the game. We blew it in the first 10 mins when Prince and Marhsall wasted our first three chances abysmally

cheers

s. tigert

 

[simon says]

I agree that the Storm really does puch the ref to the limit in that ruck area.You can see they are coached to push it as far as they can.When they have the ball they are diving and dropping balls looking for a penalty,when they are tackling,they are head grappling,pulling legs and lying on for as long as they can.

For some reason in the 2nd half the penalties stopped and they kept doing it.Very cleverly worked game plan IMHO.....we couldnt do it,we would get penalised 50-1.

 

[Anonymous]

Kearney should have been binned in the first half. How you can give away 8 penalties in a half of footy, all for much the same thin, and not have anyone sent to the bin is beyond me.

 

[_A_J_Gray_]

I think we lost it in the first half with our failure to score points.

We had so many opportunites in there red zone and the last play options were unsatisfactory with poor and inadequate kicks and attempted running on the last not coming off.