AFTER his side won through to a second successive Preliminary Final, it was hard to wipe the smile off the face of Melbourne coach Mick Stinear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflecting on the game, Stinear said that it was \u201creally pleasing in the end\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think the first quarter, Adelaide are a really strong side, they brought their best around the contest and overwhelmed us really,” he said. “It was pleasing at quarter time, the players were a little set back, like it was a bit of a sharpen up, but they weren\u2019t panicked and we sort of knew what it was going to take to get back into the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c(We) probably didn\u2019t expect it to turn around so quickly in that second quarter, but come in at half-time and have addressed that part of our contest game and our backs just to take a chance to settle and to get some more time in our forward half, that was really pleasing and to grind out the whole game and not give them an opportunity to get back in. They only kicked one goal after quarter time so yeah really pleased with the group\u2019s efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c(It was a) Tough, physical game, and I think we take a lot out of it after quarter time but that quarter time lesson will be a good one. It will come in handy in the coming weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stinear was really pleased with the way his side despite the bad start really shut down Adelaide after quarter time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were really disappointed at quarter time. We\u2019ve been priding ourselves on our team defence and they ripped through us a number of times, and so it was a little bit deflating early on, but after that our ability to defend from that point off the back of a strong contest, I thought everyone stepped up and contributed in a really good team effort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stinear was full of praise for several of his players post game, including Sarah Lampard<\/a>, who after kicking two goals in the win \u201chad big smiles after the game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s been huge for us this season,\u201d Stinear said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHer ability to play half-back and wing, just that flexibility. Shelley Heath<\/a> started inside, then we made a decision at quarter time to put her down back just to give us a bit more leg speed and that allowed Lampy to go play on the wing and Lily Mithen<\/a> to go back inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Her flexibility has been brilliant and she\u2019s been working on her game for seven seasons now and you get to see what she\u2019s capable of. So loved her efforts and her ability to finish because we were a bit wayward early, so it was good that she took her moments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n