Posted: 2024-06-28 13:40:07

Demons coach Simon Goodwin spoke to the media post game.

Thoughts on the game?

We came here on a mission and people did not give us a chance and we were determined and felt like we had some things in our identity that were coming back around territory and contest and the way we were defending the last few weeks. We knew we had some things going in the right direction and coming up here against a team that is in good form, they are a territory team, they win contest and transition incredibly well so we knew what we were up against, an experienced team and proud of how the boys performed but incredibly disappointed with the result at the end. The game was there for the taking and be walkway losing.

Clayton Oliver of the Demons is tackled by Harris Andrews of the Lions.

Clayton Oliver of the Demons is tackled by Harris Andrews of the Lions.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

What do you think happened in the last quarter?

Probably a range of things, definitely there midfielder got on top, certainly in transition, they were able to transition, they were able to transition way too easily from one end to the other and had a lot of fun contested possessions and in reality we probably were a little safe, a big occasion for our group and a lot of young players playing, at the moment, and we probably went into our shells, went a bit safe and that added to the momentum. The is a bit to unpack in the last quarter, we will go away and look at that. As I said, for three quarters, there was a lot to work with and probably the best be played.

You haven’t kicked a goal in the last quarter for the last two weeks, is that something you need to look at?

Probably something we need to go away and have a look at, whether we go into our shells in games, we will certainly look at that and with ball in hand. We made a lot of mistakes in the last quarter look like we were playing safe so that is two weeks, you are right, it suggests we need to have a look at it and we will. That is what clubs do, we try to get it better but the core elements of our A game are back in check but we had some young players who stood up.

On the flipside you had your best quarter for the year, the second quarter for the year, the second quarter, all that talk about your team struggled to find connection between midfield and forward line, seemed to melt away.

We have been really strong in the last month about trying to get the same group of forwards playing together for a period of time. For a period of time in the last 18 months, we have changed a lot down the front end, and we think we have got some continuity of Petty, van Rooyen and Turner and we think they can certainly become quite a forgettable group but they need time, cohesion is a big thing in sport. We need to be able to allow them to flourish and grow and tonight was the start of some of that, I think four games in a row where they could play together. We think we are onto something there, and we need to give it time and be patient and build the cohesion but as you said, tonight we saw it come out.

What did you make of the free kick against Alex Neal-Bullen late in the match that led to the McCluggage goal?

I have not had a good look at it, the ground level it is over the other side, but there is lots of decisions in a game of footy that can be played out and I am sure that is one that can be talked about but it is not the reason we lost the game. There was a lot of other things in the last quarter that we are in our control that we will go back and get better at.

Clayton Oliver, a big response from him?

He has worked incredibly hard and there He has worked incredibly hard and there has been a lot of criticism out there and I think he showed again tonight why teams go to him, he is a very important player with a high level of skill and we are rapped to see him back to his best.

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