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MITIAMO coach Andy Grant was left to lament a wasted first quarter with the breeze in the wake of his side’s 44-point Loddon Valley league grand final loss to Newbridge on Saturday.
The Superoos won the toss and kicked with the aid of the wind to the silo end at Bridgewater, but were unable to capitalise with the advantage and their return of 2.4 was enough for only a two-point lead at quarter-time.
The Superoos had squandered the chance with the breeze to apply early scoreboard pressure on the Maroons, who kicked nine goals to two after quarter-time to prevail 11.11 (77) to 4.9 (33).
“We wasted some opportunities in that first quarter that we needed to nail,” Grant said.
“With the way the conditions were, we needed to be a couple of goals up at quarter-time to give ourselves an opportunity.
“The wind then picked up in the second quarter, which they capitalised on and from there we were chasing.”
The game wasn’t beyond the Superoos’ grasp at three quarter-time when they were within 16 points, but the Maroons blew the margin out with five goals to one in the final term.
A final scoreline of 4.9 continued what has been a trend in 2018 of missed opportunities in attack for the Superoos, who kicked more behinds than goals in 14 of their 20 games.
The Superoos were the first team in the history of the Loddon Valley league to make a grand final having ended the home and away season in fifth position.
“The group has done a fantastic job, but it’s obviously very disappointing when you make a grand final and come up short, but full credit to Newbridge,” Grant said.
Saturday was Mitiamo’s third grand final defeat in the past four years.
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