Tooradin coach Dan O’Loughlin issued instructions to his charges in no uncertain terms on Saturday.By Brad Kingsbury
THE margin meant nothing to bitterly disappointed Tooradin coach Dan O’Loughlin, whose side lost to Doveton by one point in the dying seconds of Saturday’s game.
“I’m shattered. Make no mistake we’re not happy losing, whether it’s by a point or not,” he said.
“I told the players after the game don’t let anybody tell you well done because you lost and that’s it.”
O’Loughlin’s reaction was justified.
After adhering to a game plan that revolved around pushing players back to block Doveton’s forward 50metre zone, the Seagulls built a fivegoal lead at the start of the third quarter, but failed to attack and ram home the advantage.
The Seagulls’ effort was made more remarkable after the omission of injured trio Beau Miller (knee), Jason Hucker (knee) and Greg Bethune (hamstring).
From the opening bounce Tooradin looked on song, with O’Loughlin running a now familiar sevenman defence and blocking the centre corridor, forcing the Doves wide on the spacious Robinson Reserve.
Young Tooradin midfielder Clint Fulton dominated the opening two terms and created drive with O’Loughlin, his brother Tom and Tom Hallinan also prominent.
Doveton coach Steve Henwood did his best to inspire his side, but the Doves looked lethargic and failed to chase and pressure the Tooradin defenders, allowing easy clearances time and time again.
At halftime the momentum was firmly with the visitors, but Tooradin’s intent on defence in the third term allowed the Doves to reduce the margin from 29 points to 16 at the final change and retain a slim chance of victory.
That was all that was required and although the Seagulls kicked away to a 22point lead after scoring the first goal of the final term, Doveton lifted and ground its way back.
O’Loughlin, who spent most of the day in defence, ran forward and kicked a great leader’s goal late in the final term, but with only seconds remaining Doveton youngster Michael Rodriquez ran forward kicked a goal from 50 metres to put the Doves in front for the first time in the match.
The final siren blared 20 seconds later and the rest is history.
O’Loughlin defended his game plan and said it was not the tactics, but his side’s failure to stick to them that cost victory.
“We had a game plan in place where we wanted to push numbers behind the ball. I don’t think we did that (after halftime) which meant that when we got possession we had no space when we were trying to go forward,” he said.
“I don’t know whether it was that defensive.
“In the second half we probably only dropped five per cent, but five per cent against a side like Doveton is all they need.”
Henwood praised veteran Matt Miller for taking Fulton out of the game in the second half and said he believed Tooradin’s defensive tactics helped his side pinch the game.
“I think if they had gone on the attack they would have won the game comfortably from where they were, but they didn’t,” he said.
“We were always going to lift and we could have been in front a lot earlier, but for a couple of missed shots at goal. We did have most of the play (late in the game) but to get up and win the game by a point after such an ordinary effort, well I suppose we did steal it.”
