Giant goalie Jane Cook’s sudden illness has impacted on last-minute game plans that went a long way towards Tasmanian Magpies falling to their second defeat of the ANL season on Friday night.
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After celebrating nine straight wins, a 52-41 loss to Canberra Giants ensures the visitors have lost their grip on the top of the table overnight.
Coach Kate Upton was less concerned of the first defeat since the season opener.
“I don’t think it’s really a bad thing for us,” she said.
“Everyone would obviously like to come away with having successfully implemented the game plan.
“But I think being challenged at this time of the season is a great learning curve as long as we learn from it.”
The two-metre Cook failed to board the flight to Canberra, forcing coach Kate Upton to make positional changes that affected what turned out to be a sluggish start.
The reshuffle had Gabby Sinclair line up in goal, but she could only offer the side 12 goals at 75 per cent.
Goal attack Cody Lange led the scoring with 27 goals.
They were down 44-25 at three-quarter time before doubling Canberra’s output in the final term.
“It was disappointing – we got to the half and were down by about 20,” Upton said.
“I’m not exactly sure what the [final] score was, but it was literally because we didn’t stitch the game plan.
“We obviously had to be disciplined tonight because we didn’t have Jane in goals.
“We had different combinations in there and they were quite tall in defence.
“So it was just a matter of making sure we had real viable, well-timed options and it didn’t happen early on.”
The Tasmanians experienced Canberra for a first time this year ahead of not only Saturday night’s return clash, but the semi-final and grand final that will be played in the nation’s capital.