Coleambally captain Mitch Carroll said the Blues will need to improve for Saturday’s preliminary final against the Northern Jets.
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Carroll returned from injury to play a valuable role at the back in the loss to East Wagga-Kooringal but said the Blues let themselves down with simple errors.
“A lot of blokes got the ball but we turned it over a lot with simple fumbles and five-metre handpasses dribbling along the ground,” Carroll said.
The Jets on Robertson Oval could present a similar challenge to the Hawks but Carroll said Coly will rely on their strengths.
“They’re a bit of a smokey I suppose and they’re playing some good footy,” he said.
“They’ll probably enjoy playing here on the bigger ground so we’ll have to stop their run-and-carry. (But) if our pressure game’s up I think we can win.”
The Blues were a vast improvement on their 98-point loss to the same opponents two weeks ago, making life much harder for the Hawks, and Carroll insists they’re beatable.
“We beat them earlier in the year on a dry track,” he said.
“Everyone’s beatable – you’ve just got to turn up on the day and do it.
“Hopefully we can win next week and then look at the next week after that but the main focus is the Jets.”
Full-back Carl Pound ensured the 50-point loss wasn’t worse with a busy day on Marc Geppert while Tom Groves and Todd Clark were tireless in trying to get the Blues going.
Forward Jackson Painting could face a battle to be fit after injuring a knee.
Finding an avenue to goal remains a big concern, with the Blues kicking 4.28 in their last three games.
Kodie O’Malley looked dangerous at times and Nathan Jones and Simon Mackie also chimed in with a goal each but, apart from their brief dominance in the second quarter, the Blues struggled to make the most of their opportunities into the forward 50.
“We just need to hit our targets and move the ball and keep our pressure up – that’ll help,” Carroll said.