GREATER Western Victoria Rebels were reminded of the need to produce their best for longer after fading late against third-ranked Murray Bushrangers on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Rebels got within two points in the third term and trailed by just eight points at three-quarter-time, but the Bushrangers blew them out of the water in the last, going on to win 18.15 (123) to 10.13 (73).
Rebels coach Gerard Fitzgerald said he stressed the need for a four-quarter effort to his players in the post-game review.
“They can be very encouraged by what our best is, but they got a reminder today they they’ve got to play at their best for longer,” he said.
“For the first three quarters, we’d been averaging eight ineffective kicks – in the last quarter we had 16.
“There was a good lesson for us, that we can be within a kick of a team that’s well up on us on the ladder.”
Warrnambool’s Mitchell Bidmade collected eight disposals and laid four tackles in his TAC Cup debut.
Fellow Hampden product Keegan Gray picked up 19 disposals, while Scott Carlin had 17 and Cooper Henson collected 15.