Eagles Learn Tough Lesson in Costly Quarter Against Blues
The Eagles struggled in the third quarter of their elimination final, where the Blues dominated after halftime. West Coast coach Daisy Pearce highlighted Carlton's increased physicality and intensity as the turning point in the match.
Match Summary
After a balanced first half, Carlton surged ahead by kicking six consecutive goals early in the third quarter. This strong run secured a 41-point victory for the Blues in wet and challenging conditions at Ikon Park.
Coach Pearce's Reflections
"I just thought they lifted their physicality and intensity. For a 15-minute period or so, we just get knocked off the ball a bit too easily. That's finals footy and it'll be a great lesson for us moving forward."
Pearce acknowledged that the experience would be invaluable for the team’s development and stressed the importance of focusing on improvements for next season.
Plans for Improvement
"We just go back to the drawing board, try and really narrow in on a couple of things that are going to give us big bang for buck next year. A good starting point will be more strength and conditioning in our fundamentals. Just more work ahead of us."
Final Thoughts
"That was the message coming into today. When you eventually get there and have success, it's these moments that make it more satisfying. You've got to endure losses like today and have experiences like today."
The team is ready to use this defeat as motivation to grow stronger and improve their fundamentals in the future.
Summary: The Eagles faced a harsh lesson in physicality during their elimination final loss to the Blues, prompting coach Pearce to focus on strengthening fundamentals ahead of next season.