Kyneton was five goals up early in the last quarter against Kangaroo Flat and looking set for its first Bendigo Football League finals appearance in 12 years.
Instead, the Tigers buckled under the pressure to lose 15.18 (108) – 15.15 (105).
The Tigers’ finals dream is still alive – a win this week against bottom side Maryborough will be enough to ensure they finish fifth.
Coach Luke Beattie said the last quarter against Kangaroo Flat was a lesson in the demands of finals.
“We have a lot of young kids and they got exposure to what I identify as finals pressure,” Beattie said.
“The last quarter was what the finals will be like for four quarters every game.
“I certainly didn’t get vocal or anything with the boys after the game, as we won 80 per cent of it – we held the upper hand for that time.”
Beattie said they would work on composure under pressure during the week.
“The composure was the key and I spoke to the boys about hard running as well,” he said.
“We need to get a few seniors boys to get the ball moving around the boundary and not drive through the corridor, which is the shortest avenue to goal for the opposition if we turn it over.”
He said one positive out of the game was the return of James Meiklejohn from a calf injury.
Alik Magin kicked six goals in the loss and Harrison Huntley was adjudged his side’s best player.
Beattie said the Tigers wouldn’t be taking Maryborough lightly.
“Going up there, we struggled last year and they’re always a competitive beast,” he said.
Gisborne has fallen to eighth after losing 19.19 (133) – 8.5 (53) to ladder leader Strathfieldsaye.
The Storm jumped out of the blocks, kicking six goals to one in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs hit back in the second, outscoring the Storm and reducing the margin to 32 points at the main break.
From then on it was all the Storm, which kicked nine goals to two in the second half.
Matthew Knox kicked three goals for the Bulldogs with Jarrad Lynch named their best player.
