TERANG Mortlake knows it can match it with the Hampden league's best.
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The challenge is to do it for four quarters.
The Bloods again led a top-five side on Saturday, up six goals in the second term against Warrnambool, before falling away.
Terang Mortlake coach Lisa Arundell said her team was aware of its record against those above it on the Hampden league ladder and was determined to overcome it on the run home.
She said the 40-35 defeat at a rain-swept Reid Oval highlighted areas for improvement.
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"To date we haven't beaten anybody above us on the ladder yet we've been up against them," Arundell said.
"We were up against North, we were up against Cobden, we were up against Warrnambool.
"We have to learn to dig in hard and bring those games home that we should and could be winning."
The Bloods were without Brooke Hoare (unavailable) and Melissa Burt (ankle).
But teenager May Suhan impressed in wing defence, Libby Moloney earned praise for her role on dynamic Blue Amy Wormald and Emma Lucas' foot work was noted.
"When it's all said and done, I was pretty happy with our game," Arundell said.
"We were undermanned, we didn't have a bench.
"Brooke normally pulls in intercepts and touches for us so I think we missed that defensively."
Warrnambool coach Raewyn Poumako said goal shooter Danielle Keilar should be fit after the bye after coming off in the first term with a hip and quad injury.
She was pleased with the Blues' response after being down early.
"Amy moved really well and made really good choices with her passing and I was pleased with 'Dood' (Sarah O'Keeffe) in the middle as well," Poumako said.
"Emma (Cust) was really strong. The turnovers Emma gets at crucial times are really important and make a difference."
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