Tasmania Devils have been involved on the wrong end of a third straight NAB League game to finish inside a goal.
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Coach Adrian Fletcher was again left to rue a second fumbly loss this month alone for his under-18 group.
"It's just disappointing that at the end of the day the team that deserved to win did and we didn't," he said.
"That's something we just have to get better at soon."
The disappointing four-point defeat to Dandenong Stingrays came on the back of a sublime last-term fightback when the Devils goaled four times in five minutes.
That burst proved to be the catalyst for the hosts to pinch back-to-back dramatic wins on Saturday evening heading into the dying minutes of the Bellerive Oval clash.
Tall forward Hamish Allan profited from a push in the back, kicking a wobbly punt from just outside 30 metres to put the Devils in front for the first time since midway through the second quarter.
The Stingrays had fluffled a multiple number of opportunities at goal before they capitalised on a controversial free kick in front of goals.
Penguin's Liam Viney had caught rival Will Bravo red-handed holding the ball.
But the umpire in charge reversed the decision when teammate Sam Collins had needlessly retaliated to an off-the-ball incident.
Stingray Declan Gould calmly slotted the winner from 35 metres out.
Fletcher refused to blame umpiring or poor discipline in the team in the wash-up.
"It's not about the free kicks at all," he said.
"There were moments in the game where we didn't take our chances like with a dropped mark or they got one [goal] at the back or our kick wasn't long enough.
"It's those little moments that add up. But we had more inside 50s, we had more possession, but you just got to hurt the opposition when you get a chance. That's something we need to grow."
Fletcher rated the Stingrays equal to any side in the competition.
For that reason, the former AFL journeyman was left enthused by the comeback late in the match.
"They never give in. I'm so proud of them to do that. We're obviously disappointed that we lost," he said.
"Sometimes you just have to be proud of their efforts.
"We just need to learn a few new areas and we will give ourselves a chance."
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.
