A WIN under the belt and more cattle on the way, new Centrals Trinity Beach coach Peter Seymourcould put his feet up with a smile on his face after his team's Friday night success.
Well beaten in the opening two rounds, the Bulldogs overcame a third-quarter deficit to pip the Cairns City Lions 13.10 (88) to 10.12 (72) under the Crathern Parklights in a result that had severely contrasting effects on both coaches.
Centrals got away to a three-goal lead at the first break and doubled that at the break before the Lions woke up.
They kicked seven of their 10 majors in the third term to take a three-point advantage into the final stanza, before being restricted to just two points to finish the contest.
First-gamer Josh Westerberg, who played for Waratahs in the Northern Territory Football League in the season just gone, was a stand-out in the ruck while fellow imports Tysonand Luke Ednie, Travis Hayes, Kurt Goodmanand Clint Guywere again instrumental.
Luke Ednie kicked three majors, while Josh Brinn's double put him amongst the league's leading goalscorers this season.
"Josh changed the whole face of the game, and it helped us in the end too," Seymour said of the best-on-ground award winner. "It meant we had control of the game."
Having fought hard to rebuild the club's image this season and done well to secure sponsors and backers, the coach said winning was the perfect thank you.
"That's how footy clubs survive, not on raffles or gate taking or anything, it's sponsors. And we've got to be giving back to them and that's by winning," Seymour said.
He has promised his side will improve this season and yesterday he was happy to confirm that was happening.
"It was a good, tough win," Seymour said.
"People can think what they like, but we are just looking after ourselves and with more players to come in from all over the place we are going to keep getting better.
"Down in Victoria you never have much to do with opposition teams and I guess it's a bit the same here; you don't want to be too friendly with anyone."
If he caught opposition coach Jason Roefor a chat after the game he would have met a grumpy man.
The Lions' mentor was left seething after another close loss.
Hinting that he would swing the axe next round, Roe said it was the same contributing factors that led to their demise against Manundalast week.
"We played one good quarter of footy (in the third term) and that's it," he said.
"Centrals had a real crack and potentially we are a better side than them, but we certainly weren't on Friday."
Inaccuracy on set shots and needless penalties did not help, but he said it was his team's lack of desire that was hardest to take.
"Blokes didn't want to go and hunt the footy and that costs you," he said.
"If you committed and lost I could deal with that, but they didn't commit."
Starting the season full of promise, the Lions are winless after three rounds and have some of their best talent on the long-term injury list.
"That's two games by two goals and I don't think we've improved much from last year despite having a better quality team. I certainly haven't worked out our best 22 and I've seen enough from some of the guys."
Last Modified on 08/05/2013 13:58