BEARS Lagoon-Serpentine coach Damien Featherby says a second grand final loss in as many years will test the character of his playing group moving forward.
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For the second year in a row the Bears were beaten by Bridgewater in the Loddon Valley Football League grand final.
While last year’s grand final was a heartbreaking eight-point loss, the Bears were whitewashed by the Mean Machine by 96 points on Saturday, losing 22.15 (147) to 7.9 (51) at Mitiamo.
“It will test people out... the greatest thing you get in life is to get tested,” Featherby said.
“Some people come through testing times and some people don’t and they’ll probably dwindle off in life and not be successful.
“So absolutely, it will test the character of everyone... it’s difficult.”
The Bears were competitive with the Mean Machine in the first term when they trailed by eight points at quarter-time.
But they couldn’t stop a second-quarter run-on when the Mean Machine kicked seven unanswered goals in 18 minutes and from there, there was no way back for the Bears.
“It’s extremely disappointing for the club and the players,” Featherby said.
“It’s been that sort of a season where we’ve had fluctuations the whole year and today was probably no different.
“We played well through the finals series until today.
“We were really poor with our skills today and we turned the ball over when at times there wasn’t a lot of pressure.
“You just can’t afford to turn the ball over against a side like Bridgewater... the reason they are undefeated is because they’re quality.”
The Bears named captain Jye Sandiford, who played half-forward and through the midfield, their best player.
Onballer Gareth Bowes, wingmen Brayden Scott and Mick Ring and backmen Nick Arthur and Andrew Gladman were also named in the Bears’ best players.
Cody Gunn kicked three of the Bears’ seven goals, including the last of the match that brought the margin to under 100 points.
The Bears’ score of 7.9 (51) was their lowest of the season and the 96-point margin their biggest defeat since losing to Bridgewater by 126 points in round 10, 2011.
The Bears have now lost the past three grand finals they have played (2005, 2013 and 2014) since their last flag in 1995.
