Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew has blasted his aspect for “living in the land of hope” after searching for the simple choice in a 49-point thumping to start their AFL season.
Seeking a maiden finals look after a club-best 10-win marketing campaign in 2022, Dew’s aspect have been humbled on a moist night time by final yr’s crushed grand finalists Sydney.
Five unanswered targets successfully killed the competition within the first quarter, the Swans prevailing 16.14 (110) to 9.7 (60) at Heritage Bank Stadium in Carrara.
“We lived in a bit of a land of hope and thought, ‘Maybe it might go over the back, out wide to me’,” Dew lamented.
“Against good teams that’s not going to happen; we needed to get our hands dirty and we didn’t at all.”
Eleven of the Swans’ 16 targets – shared by 12 completely different gamers – got here from turnovers.
Dew stated throughout the park it was work charge and defensive strain that allow his aspect down.
“We expected more across the whole day; weren’t able to sustain a style of play we were after for more than 10 minutes,” the coach stated.
“There will be some good vision to come out of that.
“Play the sport on its deserves and never stay within the land of hope that it’d come out. There’s no simple ball, notably … in these situations.”
Ben King didn’t get a kick in his comeback game until the third term, but it was long and straight and sailed through for a goal.
He also put his body on the line to create a goal for small forward Ben Ainsworth.
“He saved going; we weren’t anticipating a best-on-ground efficiency …. but it surely would not shock if he has a very good recreation subsequent week both.
“He’ll keep fronting up; it wasn’t his night tonight, but it wasn’t really anyone’s night tonight.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
