Lavington coach James Saker believes a lack of effort and attitude cost his side the four points against Myrtleford at Lavington Oval on Saturday.
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The Panthers were overrun 10.15 (75) to 6.11 (47) by the fast-finishing Saints, despite dominating the first half.
Lavington led 5.4 (34) to 0.3 (3) at quarter time and extended the margin to 39 points at the main break.
Two late goals in the third term cut the Panthers’ margin back to 25 at the final break, but the home side was still well and truly in the box seat.
However, the Saints piled on eight unanswered final-quarter goals, while the Panthers’ could only muster one behind.
Footy is a pretty good leveller I would have thought and we were really good last time. We’ve just got to look at our attitude, effort, all the stuff between the ears.
- James Saker
The result sends both sides into the bye weekend at two wins and two losses.
The shock result is a far cry from the Panthers’ clinical performance against Wodonga just a week ago.
“Footy is a pretty good leveller I would have thought and we were really good last time,” Saker said.
“Our first quarter was as good as we’d gone for a while, but their work rate changed a few things and we lost our focus.
“They held sway for the second and third quarter and the dam broke in the last.
“We struggled in most areas of the ground for three quarters and they played a lot better than us.
“We’ve just got to look at our attitude, effort, all the stuff between the ears.
“It (the week off) comes at a good time, we would have loved to have been 3-1, but you get what you deserve, they were too good.”
Frazer Dale was immense during the second half with more than 20 disposals in a dominant period in the middle of the ground.
Myrtleford’s Brad Murray hopes the victory can gather some momentum for the rest of the Saints’ season.
“We were 0-2, now we’re 2-2 going into a week off and then Wodonga after that, which will be another big game,” he said.
“We’ve got a bye, so hopefully the boys can utilise it and come back fresh.”
The bye weekend has arguably come at a good time for Myrtleford as well, who finished the game with just one on the bench after Elijah Wales and Tom Kerlin both suffered injuries.
Kerlin left the ground on crutches with ice around his ankle and will need the 14 days to prove his fitness for the side’s round five clash with the Bulldogs at John Flower Oval.
Lavington will have a full session at training on Tuesday, before taking a week off and returning to face Wangaratta Rovers at WJ Findlay Oval on May 6.