Lions resolve on show; sights set on strong second half of season

REDAN coach Marc Greig has hailed the Lions’ upset one-point win over Melton as ‘reward for effort’ over a few weeks, not just on Saturday.

The Lions notched up their second win of the season with a stirring 5.10 (40) to 5.9 (39) triumph over the Bloods in the wet at City Oval.

While they led, albeit by no more than five points, at every change of end, the Lions found themselves down towards the middle of the final quarter.

A snap from Zac Mortlock from deep in the forward pocket 12 minutes 20 into the final term gave the Lions a lead they would never surrender, as they defended grimly for a further 17 minutes.

Melton had its chances to regain the ascendancy, with a few chances at goal either missing the mark or falling short.

Greig, who has seen his own team squander vital chances in several games this season, particularly in opening quarters, could not have been prouder of his team’s resilience and fight.

“It was good for the boys to get some reward for effort,” he said.

“We’ve been in the last few games early, but we just haven’t been able to kick goals and it nearly happened again.

“We’ve had really good quarters and dominated, but not the scoreboard.

“I’ve been telling the boys that at some stage our time will come. They missed a few easy ones, but that’s been us in recent weeks.

“That’s footy, but it’s good for the boys (to get a win).”

The only downside to the win was an ankle injury to Liam Hoy.

Greig said the Lions had given themselves every opportunity the old-fashioned way, by putting their heads over the footy.

He was glowing in his praise of the work of his defenders.

“They were under the pump and on a wet day it’s a bit slippery. Some might say it’s a bit easier for them, but you’ve still got to be able to defend the ball,” he said.

“We thought they were fantastic, but at the same time we thought our mids put their head over the footy when it was their time and their pressure across the ground was great.

“It was a tricky one (finding best players); it was a contribution from across the board.

“On these types of days, you just need to make the most of your opportunities going inside 50, and in the previous month we haven’t been able to do that.

“Today (last Saturday) we kicked some goals when it counted.

 

“Even the last goal, from a forward 50 stoppage, we practice that every few weeks.

“The guys have been great at listening regarding what we have been trying to achieve over the last few weeks.

“We want to be a bit more considered going inside 50 and I thought we were.

“At least we were able to force a stoppage inside 50; in previous games it would spit right back out.”

For the record, Rory Gunsser, Nicholas Barker, Jacob Werts, Daniel Bond, Will Madden and Oscar Henderson rated as the official best players.

Ninth at the halfway point of the home and away season at 2-7, only two wins behind sixth-placed Sunbury, Greig is hoping their brave win over Melton can give the Lions plenty of impetus for an improved second half of the year.

They will get their chance to build some momentum and make it two wins in a row against bottom side Lake Wendouree at City Oval this Saturday.

Redan won the two teams’ earlier season clash in round 1 by 92 points.

On the season as a whole, Greig believed the Lions had been competitive in parts of every game with the exception of a 104-point loss to Sebastopol in round 3.

“When all our players are available, we are super-competitive,” he said.

“But that’s the reality, all teams need their better players out on the park – we’re no different.

“We had Will Madden back … he’s an old Redan boy, but has been overseas for a little bit, but came back and played his first game in the ruck,” Greig said.

“He was great and just competed strongly to give us another option.

“He kicked a goal as well.

“Having him back is really great for the group.”

“Talking to the guys each week, I know the margins over the last few months have been 50, 60, 70 points, but look at our first quarters and we’ve always been in the game, but just can’t kick straight.

“With a young group, the mindset is massive. So much of it is between the ears.

“But to have the resolve … Melton hit the lead after we’d been in front all day … was great to see and shows we are learning.

“Hopefully this win gives them the confidence to go on and have a better second half of the year.”