Blighty’s skills are improving

“Despite the score line, our pressure and talk was up and our skills looked a lot better then previous weeks,” he said.

“Still, our little lapses during the quarters hurt us a bit.

“We are starting to play better as a team. The blokes stepping up from the seconds each week have been doing a great job for us.”

Final score: Picola 23.29 (167) def Blighty 3.4 (22).

Best on ground for Blighty was Isaac Suckling, who played a great game down back.

Also contributing well was Henry Michael, who is “another young bloke starting to string some good games together”.

Others recognised among the best were Kev Maroney and Jack Charlton, who both played well through the midfield and forward line.

The Blighty reserves faced a windy start against Picola, who kicked away in the first quarter which made it hard for the Redeyes to catch them.

Starting with only two on the bench, and a range of players away, Blighty lifted their fight in the second half.

A few new faces made a good match once they found their feet and kept Picola to minimal scoring opportunities in the last half.

Final score: Picola 6.18 (114) def Blighty 2.1 (13).

Best ons included George Fulton who is massively improving every week and Reilly Webb for displaying good run and carry.

New face Coby McAllister had a good hit out and Matty Druitt, in for his first game, had good impact around the footy.

The fourths headed over to Picola with a couple of key players out, so knew everyone was going to have to put in 100 per cent.

The first quarter was slow and lethargic, and Picola made the Redeyes work really hard for a six point lead.

Blighty struggled in the second quarter, leading to a "sloppy brand of football“ repaired only by the hard work of the backline repelling countless entries.

This allowed Blighty to pull away with a two point lead.

In the third stanza, the Redeyes dug their heels in and responded well with some good football.

Heading into the last with a 14 point lead, the young Redeyes continued to wrestle the momentum of the game back and started hitting the scoreboard again and recording a tough 23 point win.

Final score: Picola 2.4 (16) lost to Blighty 6.3 (39).

Better players for the day included Jarrod Hislop. Just like an old tractor he just never stops working, and was gathering possessions all over the ground.

Joshi Singleton played out of his skin, kicking himself two goals. His work rate around the forward line was really good, his confidence is growing every week and he is really starting to find the football a lot more.

Dakota McKenzie probably had her best game to date, working really hard in the forward line with a lot of pressure around the ball and rewarding herself with a goal.

Hayden Sampson definitely found his spot on the halfback line and is starting to read the ball well. His intercept work of the half backline is starting to set him up to be a talented footballer.

Lara Strong was another one who stood up and generated a lot of play out of the backline. The way she attacks the ball and uses it is really impressive.

Jack Culton is another in the backline who is starting to be the general. His intercept marking and will to win the contested ball, and his skill is impressive to watch.

The Blighty fifths had another great win at Picola, on the cold day that it was.

These little players are playing some good football.

It was a great team effort.

Well done to the bigger boys for looking after the little ones, bringing them into the game.

It was great to see senior coach Kyel Bain getting out of bed early to come and cheer the little chaps on.