AFTER a shattering 38-point loss to Cobden, Portland coach Tom Sharp is desperate for his side to rediscover the form they opened the season with against North Warrnambool Eagles in round one.
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The 17.9 (111) to 10.13 (73) win was the Bombers' first of the season and gave the Tigers, who now drop to ninth, their fifth straight defeat this season.
Sharp said his side had addressed the issues plaguing it in the past weeks but now it was up to his players to put in maximum effort for an entire match.
"After the loss against Koroit (in round five) we sat down and had a think about what's going on and our moral was a bit down so we changed a few things," the playing-mentor said.
"We are training much harder and I think the moral is fine now. It's just us not putting four quarters on the board come game day and it's hurting us because we know we're a good enough side.
"Since we played North, who are now on top of the ladder, we went from being able to have a draw with them and playing good footy to where we haven't played a single game of four quarters, which is the main reason why we've been losing."
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The Tigers led at quarter-time but after the first break they conceded 15.7 to 6.12 to hand Adam Courtney and his men their first win.
Hampden league representative Jesse Williamson was best on ground as he kicked six goals as the Bombers stormed to victory.
A positive to come out of the game for the Tigers was a clean slate on the injury front and Jake Wilson, who nailed five majors, finding some form up forward.
Sharp was also pleased with the impressive debut of Greater Western Victoria Rebels-listed player Toby Jennings.
The 16-year-old kicked a goal on debut and was named as one of the Tigers' better players.
The first-year mentor said his side would have plenty to focus on at training this week following the loss.
"We will be working on transition and entry into the forward line to just focus on getting those high percentage shots on goal," he said.
"Those sort so things are all the basics. We need crumbers to the feet of talls and establish more avenues to goal and when we are in control we need to be putting enough scoreboard pressure on."
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