By Gavin Staindl
WITH the opposition breathing down its neck, Gippsland Power heads for the home straight in the marathon that is the TAC Cup regular season … content not to finish first.
With the finishing line in sight, Gippsland coach Adam Dowie said losing the remaining two games and giving up frontrunner status – a position held for more than two months – would not matter.
“All I want us to be over the next two weeks is competitive,” he said.
“As long as we finish in the top four and seal a second chance, I don’t mind if we lose the nexttwo.”
Gippsland suffered its fourth loss of the season on Saturday, going down to the Oakleigh Chargers by 12 points at Warrawee Park and must win its final two games against top flight opponents Calder and Sandringham to secure first.
But, as on Saturday, Dowie is just hopeful for a “decent hit-out”.
“To be honest, up until Saturday, we haven’t been tested all year,” Dowie said.
Kicking out to a five-goal lead, Oakleigh dominated in the midfield, but through some careless defence, Gippsland utilised the corridor and mounted its comeback.
By three-quarter-time, the Power was a goal away from the lead but three defensive errors resulting in three goals put the game beyond reach.
“If it wasn’t for those errors, maybe we could have won, but Sam Docherty and Jack Johnstone are great users of the ball and you’d back them in with their skill every time. But on this instance it didn’t come off,” Dowie said.
“Although they smashed us in the first quarter, I thought our start was good and our intensity was up for most of the game.
“We gave them a five-goal head start, and to come back from that was really encouraging.
“We did a lot right but just didn’t get the four points, but that is something we don’t necessarily need.”
Danny Butcher and Clay Smith continued their stellar years and Docherty was unstoppable in his spread from defence, amassing a game-high 30 touches.
