Murrumbateman Eagles coach Andy Ingold praised his side for their focus during their clash against Cootamundra on the weekend, which became contentious and resulted in several injuries for the Eagles.
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The match took place at the Murrumbateman Rec Grounds on Saturday afternoon, and began as many expected, with both teams going hard at the ball in a physical contest.
However, it quickly became clear to the visitors that they would not have the easy win they expected, and some players chose to take the contest away from the ball.
In the third quarter, three Murrumbateman players - Dave Guttler (dislocated shoulder), Tom Dryburgh, and Ben Wrankmore (both concussed) - left the field and received medical attention from ambulance officers after they were caught by late hits off the ball.
The behaviour by some of Cootamundra's players prompted Murrumbateman fans on the sideline to comment that it was dirty football and highly unsporting, and Blues coach Luke Webb expressed his disappointment, saying that it was the behaviour of a few individuals and not the team dynamic.
"It's not [what we want to see]," Webb said.
"We're talking about individuals with their own brain development. Everyone reacts differently to all sorts of situations, not only on the field but in life, and things that you don't like will happen."
Meanwhile, Ingold said that he was pleased with the way his players focused their attention on playing football rather than the external distractions.
"We were very hard at the footy in the first quarter, and I don't think Coota expected that," he said.
"Footy's about aggression at the football ... That's how I'm gonna try and get these guys to play football."
In the end, Murrumbateman fell to the Blues by 72 points, 2.4.16 to 13.10.88, but Ingold was pleased with the team's efforts and praised the players who stood up under the pressure.
"They're a quality side, and I knew that they were going to be the benchmark this year," Ingold said.
"I knew that we had to come out and be first at the footy, be hard at the footy.
"Dave Guttler, Blake Hearne, Tom Dryburgh, they're hard boys at the footy. Alex Ritchins did well down the back."
Webb also praised Murrumbateman's performance, saying that the difference between the two sides felt small on the field.
"I was really impressed, it felt like there was only a couple of goals in the whole game," he said.
The Murrumbateman Eagles will next take on the Yass Roos in a local derby at Joe O'Connor Park on Saturday from 2.00pm.