Port Fairy took plenty away from its clash against second-placed South Warrnambool in Hampden league round five.
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The Seagulls went down 58-28 and coach Renae Taylor is clear on what the team can work on this week against North Warrnambool Eagles at home.
"We took a lot of away from our game against South, we threw a lot of ball away which they were able to capitalise on, so our main focus is really protecting the ball this week, our movement down the court and our conversion," she said.
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The Seagulls lost 26-41 to top-placed Cobden in round four so have now tested themselves against what Taylor considers the benchmark sides of the competition.
She looks forward to seeing the result from the match between the Bombers and Roosters when they meet. Taylor said they played very different styles.
Port Fairy was without its captain and goal defence Bernie Meade against Cobden.
It was also the game assistant coach and centre Ally Feely snapped her achilles, ruling her out for the rest of the season.
Taylor said the group has been adjusting without Feely who she noted did a mountain of work for the team and provided invaluable on-court leadership.
The Seagulls mentor has thrown Tessa Allen and Liv Cautley in the centre in Feely's absence.
She said the group had really tried to step up against South Warrnambool but it struggled to deal with the Roosters' pressure.
Taylor is also giving players opportunities.
Recruit Indi Ryan (Hamilton) played her first full open game last week.
"She played goal attack for us and did a really good job," Taylor said of the 18-year-old.
Injured youngster Maddie Green (leg) also made her open-grade debut in recent rounds.
The Seagulls and Eagles both have two wins and three losses. The Eagles have won two in a row, including an impressive win against Koroit last weekend.
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