A FOUR-goal burst by the Calder Cannons in the second half of the second quarter has proven costly for the Geelong Falcons as they suffered a seven-point loss at Craigieburn’s RAMS Arena on Saturday.
The Falcons, who remain winless after four games with three losses and a draw, fought back from a 17-point half-time deficit to lead during the third quarter.
However, they were unable to go the distance with the Cannons, losing 8.11 (59) to 8.4 (52).
“We really struggled to get our hands on the ball around the clearances and at the stoppages,” coach Luke Daffy said of the Cannons’ burst.
“And they got the ball going forward and we didn’t defend very well.
(That) allowed them to get a lot of uncontested marks, which meant that they were able to get to the ball in their front half.”
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Daffy says inconsistency is hurting the Falcons, who drew with the Dandenong Stingrays and lost by a point to Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the two games before the clash with Calder.
“It’s been a pattern over the last three weeks, where we are right in the contest but we can’t seem to play consistent footy for long enough to get the win,” he said.
“They are definitely learning from the situations that they’re in … which is great because the fact of the matter is it’s a development program and these kids need to understand what best decisions look like when the game’s in the balance.”
“But it’s a lack of consistency across the four quarters.”
The Falcons unveiled five debutants for the match: Luke Lloyd, Charlie Brauer, Chris Seymour, Ryan Bell and Josh Lange.
Lloyd finished with two goals, while Seymour managed one major.
They next meet the Sydney Swans Academy at Trevor Barker Beach Oval in Sandringham next Sunday.
Twitter: @tom_king79
Calder Cannons 0.1, 4.6, 5.10, 8.11 (59)
Geelong Falcons 2.1, 2.1, 6.3, 8.4 (52)
Goals: Calder Cannons: N. Gentile 3, J. Martin 2, O. Sasalu, M. Simpson, J. Keeping
Geelong Falcons: C. Sprague 2, L. Lloyd 2, C. Seymour, L. Smith, K. Rayner, W. Batson
Best: Calder Cannons: B. Newman, D. Mott, N. Gentile, O. Sasalu, S. Ramsay, S. Graham
Geelong Falcons: H. Stubbings, S. Christensen, C. Karpala, C. Sprague, S. Bourke, W. Batson
