SOUTH Bendigo coach Steven Oliver won’t be content with competitive performances from his young side in 2015.
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The Bloods have had a tough start to the season, losing to last year’s finalists Eaglehawk, Golden Square and Sandhurst by an average margin of 76 points.
For periods of those games, particularly against Golden Square and Sandhurst, the Bloods have been more than competitive.
They trailed last year’s runner-up Sandhurst by just seven points at half-time last Saturday only to get blown away in the second half.
“Our best footy is very good and good enough to compete with the best teams, but our lapses and our inability to change those lapses is very frustrating,’’ Oliver said.
“Against Sandhurst we didn’t make the mistakes that we made against Golden Square which was encouraging to see the guys learn some better decision making.
“There was still the frustration of Sandhurst kicking 10 straight goals in the third quarter without an answer.
“There was a lot of missed tackles… Sandhurst lifted their intensity through the middle of the ground and we couldn’t stop it.
“For the other three quarters of the game we were within two goals or so. Likewise against Square we were within a couple of goals of Golden Square for three-and-a-half quarters, but they kicked 4.6 unanswered in a 15 minute period.
“We’ve got to learn to close games down in that situation. We need to start getting an even contribution across the board.”
Oliver said the Bloods will get the rewards they’re after if they’re willing to work for four quarters.
“That final margin (against Sandhurst) was really disappointing for the effort that the boys put in, but in footy that’s what you’re judged on,’’ he said.
“We’ve had losses of 100, 40 and 80 points, while we’ve played three of the top four teams and we’ve competed for two and three quarters, at this level of footy you have to compete for four quarters.
“We can’t be content with getting a pat on the back for playing a half of footy.”
The Bloods host Kyneton under lights at the QEO this Saturday night.
The Tigers have their own defensive issues after conceding 93 scoring shots over the past two weeks.
Meanwhile, Golden Square coach Nick Carter is expecting Gisborne to come out firing when the two sides meet at Gardiner Reserve on Saturday.
Gisborne is coming off a 15-point loss to Castlemaine and has a 1-2 record after three rounds.
“I don’t buy into some of the results that have been coming up for Gisborne,’’ Carter said.
“When I look at their side I see a lot of familiar faces that we’ve had many fierce battles with. I don’t expect anything less from Gisborne this week.
“We have a rivalry that suggests regardless who represents each club, the games are always close.”
Golden Square should regain Corey Jones from a hamstring injury.