Pruey’s Match Review: Round 4

Coach Andrew Pruyn reflects on Round 4.

“We knew coming into the weekend’s clash against Peel Thunder that we needed a strong start, but unfortunately, we were caught on the back foot and allowed Peel to get away early. Conceding 4 goals in the first ten minutes put us under immense pressure and made the challenge ahead even greater.

“Credit to the boys for showing real resilience and character to work our way back into the contest.

“Despite the early deficit, our group never dropped their heads. We fought hard to claw back the margin and, through sheer determination, managed to hit the front in the last quarter. That effort speaks volumes about the spirit and belief within this group. It was disappointing to see the lead slip away in the final minutes, but I can’t fault the players’ commitment and effort throughout the match.

“Losing Josh Cipro to a hamstring injury early in the second quarter was a significant blow. Josh is a key part of our midfield rotation, and his absence was felt. However, I was proud of the way the team adapted and covered for him, with several players stepping up to fill the void.

“A real positive was the debut of Zane Trew. After overcoming injury setbacks, it was fantastic to see Zane make such a positive impact in his first game for the club.

“He showed composure and class, and I have no doubt he’ll be better for the run and will continue to grow into a key contributor for us.

“While we’re still searching for that first win of the season, the last two weeks have shown we’re heading in the right direction. We’re slowly getting closer to assembling our strongest 22, and the signs are promising as we continue to build momentum and belief within the group.

“We’ll review, learn, and come back stronger next week. The boys should take confidence from the fight they showed, and we’ll keep working hard to turn these close games into wins.