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It is a sign of the times at Sturt that the club can win a game by 10 goals and still be disappointed. The Double Blues were never threatened by West Adelaide at Broadspectrum Oval on Saturday, although it must be said the Bloods are a plucky bunch.
Maybe the memories of confronting meek opposition six days earlier against South Adelaide were still lingering in the mind.
Whatever the reason, the Blues lacked the required intensity and total focus for much of the match.
Yet they still won by 60 points - the eighth time they have won by at least that margin this year.
"That is the beauty of having a 10-goal win and as I said to the group after the game - we are a long way off our best," Sturt coach Rick Macgowan said.
"The defensive pressure - there needs to be a lot of improvement there. We allowed them to run the ball out of defence too easily. We can improve quite a bit. I'd be lying if I did not say it is a bit of a concern. I'd like to think we could be a lot more desperate."
Macgowan then mentioned Central, Sturt's opponent on Saturday at home. That, no doubt, will attract the attention of his players.
As for the Bloods, there is definitely nothing wrong with their commitment and desperation. They just lack the personnel.
The club is blooding youngsters and coach Andy Collins praised the decisions of several senior players to step aside and allow the Bloods to build a future.
"We need these boys (youngsters) stepping up," Collins said. "Obviously we have some talented youth but we are probably the most inexperienced side in the SANFL by a long way. I like the endeavour of our team. Now we have just got to educate them and do a fair bit of work - not just over the summer but during the rest of the season."
Courtesy of The Advertiser
Story by Warren Partland