Wet and slippery conditions made for a tough encounter against Geelong on Sunday and it was the Bulldogs inability to capitalise on their good work in close that proved costly according to Mitch Wallis.
“They got the jump on us early and hit the scoreboard with some goals whereas we missed our opportunities,” Wallis said.
“It was a hard slog, I think we took it up to them in the contest but we just weren’t able to capitalise on some of our opportunities.
“In the end their class and their ability to finish with goals got them over the line.”
Despite trailing by as much as 34 points in the second quarter, the Bulldogs handled the Cats’ high pressure game for the majority of the afternoon and but fell short by 13 points at the final siren.
Best illustrated by the incredible 225 tackles laid throughout the match - accounting for almost 18% of tackles across the league in round 16 – Wallis said the Cats polish was just too good.
“I think if you look at the stats the ball was played in our half more than theirs but just when they did get it in their forward 50 it was over the back and they were able to get goal side and score,” he said.
“We rectified that in the last half but it was more of a too little too late-type of scenario.”
The 21-year-old said he would not be disheartened despite the loss and will instead use it as further motivation on the training track his week.
“It was a great effort by the boys, we didn’t come away with the chocolates but we will still take away a lot of positives,” he said.
