The scoreboard showed a 35-point loss, but after trailing by the best part of ten goals at half-time, Newtown & Chilwell coach Steve Johnson was happy to focus on the positives.
In the Geelong great’s first game in the role, St Joseph’s extended its winning run over the Towners to seven thanks to an eight-goal burst in the second quarter that turned a 10-point lead into a match-winning 57-point buffer at the main break.
Johnson’s message was simple but effective at half-time.
“I’m challenging (the) young kids to respond,” Johnson told krockfootball.live post-match.
“And if they don’t respond, well, then that’s hard after the game.
“But they responded really well. I think we won the second half by 20 points.
“So I’m glad we’ve got a lot to work with, a lot of little improvement areas, which at the end of the year, I think we’ll be a much better side equipped to play these top sides.”
Disappointed his team took the foot off the pedal in the second half, Joeys coach Ron Watt took the unusual step of addressing his players at length on the ground following the final siren.
“We spoke a bit about just driving (our) advantage home,” he said.
“And you can use the word ruthless or whatever word you want to use to make sure you control the game and finish it off.
“We spoke about it at three-quarter time, and I think there were probably lapses where we could have controlled the game a bit more, and we didn’t.
“I think our contest was still good; we still worked hard and ran, but we didn’t play as smart as what I’d like.
“And that’s ruthless, too, by being able to control the ball.”
St Joseph’s will have next week off before facing Leopold on Easter Saturday in Lorne.
2023 Rookie of the Year Hunter Lewis and wily defender Luke Webb both got through the reserve grade clash unscathed and are set to take on the two-time reigning premier.
However, Jack Buckley and his red bandana are likely to require another outing at 12 o’clock.
Newtown & Chilwell hosts fellow Opening Round loser Bell Park, with a watch on Gennaro Bove, who played much of the contest with a swollen hand.
He will have it looked at by doctors, but the Towners are confident it is only a burst blood vessel.
Last night, Colac stormed home to beat Bell Park by 13 points at Central Reserve, 10.11 (71) to 9.4 (58).
Trailing by 12 points at three-quarter time, the Tigers kicked the only four goals of the final term.
Darcy Lang, Joel Cooper and Chaise Murray each kicked two goals for Colac, with Rhys McWaters, Lucas Stefanovski and Eli Pearce contributing two apiece for the Dragons.
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