Understrength Tongala falls to Nathalia

By Matthew Kappos

Jun 9, 2024

Alex Williams put in a good shift in the Blues’ loss to Nathalia, being named among his team’s best. Photo: Aidan Briggs Photo by Aidan Briggs

Tongala’s senior football side suffered its third successive loss in round nine of the Murray Football League at the weekend.

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Nathalia got out of the blocks quickly at Nathalia Recreation Reserve, kicking five goals in the opening term, to Tonny’s two.

With a number of key players missing, the Blues struggled to go with the Purples as Nathalia extended its lead at every change.

Tongala kicked two goals to the Purples' three in the second, but would not kick another for the game as Nathalia took the game 12.12 (84) to 4.10 (34).

“It was kind of a mix of emotions I suppose,” Tongala coach Billy Barnes said.

“As a group you know we definitely believe that we’re a finals side and to play good sides like Nathalia was a real challenge just to see where we're at.

“We've got a couple of boys that are injured that are really important to us at the moment structurally as well.

“Obviously coming off a bit of a bad loss against Finley we wanted to reset and go again and try and fix things and improve from last week.

“Nathalia, full credit to them; they’re are a good side.

I felt like we were always in it, but unfortunately, just our fundamentals, some of our skill errors, cost us going forward at times.”

A number of players were trialled in new positions, as they have been throughout the year, with named full-forward Sam Cipriani slotting into the midfield and earning best on ground honours for the Blues.

“He gave us a lot of good use out of the middle which is fantastic, and we only just went down in clearances for the game, but what he was able to provide for us deep in our defence, but also right in the middle was fantastic, so he played his role really well,” Barnes said.

Things don’t get any easier for Tongala as it looks to arrest its three-game losing slide as the Blues take on league-leader Congunpna at Tongala Recreation Reserve this weekend.