Tasmania Devils' run of outs continued on Saturday, suffering a bitter seven-point loss to NAB League wooden spooner Geelong Falcons.
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Coach Adrian Fletcher was forced to lament his side's inability to apply scoreboard pressure just as their rivals turned around the limited opportunities into vital goals.
The Tasmanians had 56 forward entries to 42, but lost the game 8.8 (56) to 7.7 (49) at North Hobart Oval.
"We have had three out of four good weeks, having opportunities to win," he said.
"But we just haven't taken them when they are there. That's something we have to learn - hopefully our young players are learning what happens in those scenarios."
The Devils scored the first two goals, but trailed at the first change after the Falcons answered with the next three.
A goalless second term set the Tasmanians further back at half-time by 17 points.
Geelong's five-goal streak was broken by the next two goals at the other end to bring the margin back to one point entering the last quarter.
The hosts hit the front twice in the last quarter off goals from Jack Rand and Jye Menzies but options dried up as the Falcons scored the final two to pull away.
Amid the bottom-of-the-table clash full of ebbs and flows, the coach pinpointed the areas the Devils failed in.
"We even spoke about that at three quarter-time and we just didn't have composure at times," Fletcher said.
"You have to find that kick to the loose player in your forward line and find him for a set shot. Even our quick kicks didn't hit the hot spot - they just went short or wide."
Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
