Greater Western Victoria Rebels started strongly, only to go down by 39 points to the Sandringham Dragons in a tough round eight TAC Cup encounter at Trevor Barker Oval on Saturday.
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The Rebels kicked the first three goals of the game, and withheld a Dragons surge in the second quarter to go into half-time two points ahead.
But Rebels coach Gerard FitzGerald said the match was lost in the third term, with the Dragons outscoring the Rebels with four goals while kicking into the wind.
In an arm-wrestle at the start of the fourth quarter, it took the Dragons 10 minutes to convert, but once they did, the flood gates opened.
“We had really good signs early in the last quarter... but we didn’t make the most of our opportunities and then the game was taken from us,” FitzGerald said.
“There was certainly a spark early in the last quarter, and we thought if we had of been able to convert it would have put some pressure on the opposition.”
But FitzGerald said some positives could be taken out of the game with a competitive first half effort against a team higher on the ladder.
“I thought we played better this weekend than against the (Oakleigh) Chargers, but we’re getting to the stage where I think we’re capable of beating these sides above us. Yesterday was a reminder that we have to play better for longer.”
Callan Wellings was among the Rebels’ best with 28 disposals and five tackles, while Jed Hill kept the Rebels in it with his three goals.
