Brant Chambers has still to strike his best form, kicking 6.5 while Double Blues coach Rick Macgowan was disappointed with his side's second-half performance. And Sturt still won by 85 points in another emphatic early-season statement which kept it unbeaten after four rounds.

How does Macgowan keep a lid on the explosive form?

"We had a good run last year as well, especially after the year before when they battled," Macgowan said. "They never got ahead of themselves and I was quite surprised how they came up every week.

"I don't think it is an issue at all. There are no egos - they're level-headed. We will get back to training on Monday and work on Glenelg.

"They realise, especially after how the season finished last year (knocked out by Glenelg in elimination final), it is a great motivation to come up every week. To have an impact in the finals you have to finish higher than fifth. That is our goal - to finish top three."

With Sturt's reserves also firing, the depth at Unley is a bonus.

"It is a good position but stressful," Macgowan said. "There are plenty of league footballers (in reserves) ready to play league footy. But in a good environment hopefully they can be patient."

As for the Panthers, coach Jack Cahill said he was aware the crunch would come after three wins to open the season.

"It is a good learning curve, a good eye-opener," Cahill said. "It is about teaching them to play to a position.

"There are some weaknesses which we knew would be exposed. They were, by a team solid all over the ground."

Courtesy of AdelaideNow
Story by Warren Partland

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