Straight From The Sauce – Elimination Final

A disappointing end to an interesting season where the first half of the year we were able to produce some really strong footy and then the second half of the season wasn’t anywhere near where we want to be. It’s not lost on me that finals are still a challenge to make and I’m proud of the boys being able to qualify but we will take the learnings and get better in 2025.

The game vs Glenelg provided some challenges, but I want to take nothing away from the Bays as they were the better team on the day from the outset. A slow start put us on the back foot and it’s something we have prided ourselves on in being the best first quarter team and we needed to work our way back into the game.

Losing Cam Fleeton and Joe Sinor so early in the game to HIA and concussion was challenging and then also Josh Morris as well later in the game, I know supporters will look at the 70-point loss with disappointment (as we are to lose to the game), but im really proud of the boys for fighting, staying positive and playing the game right out to the very end. The game gave a lot of our players their first taste of finals footy, and I know this will give us a foundation to improve on as we know the level we need to get too.

Better players on the day were the old stalwarts in their final games, Matthew Goldsworthy with 3.3 and 15 touches, Luke Thompson with 18 touches and 9 rebound 50s and Jarrad Redden with 38 hitouts and 8 to advantage to be the dominant ruckman on the ground.

Congratulations to the Reserves and Under 18s on their Elimination Final wins, they both play Glenelg at Glenelg on Saturday, so will be great to get supporters to the game to get behind them.

Thank you to everyone for their support this year and getting behind the boys. Some ups, some downs, but we will work harder to get better.

Sauce

Sam Jacobs – Eagles Senior Coach