The Queensland Firebirds’ hopes of playing finals were taken away from them on Thursday night after a seven-goal loss to Collingwood Magpies at Nissan Arena.
In what was a big occasion for the Firebirds, who hosted their inaugural Pride Match, a late charge in the final quarter wasn’t enough to stop them from going down, 59-66.
Speaking after the match coach Megan Anderson said she knew the Firebirds were capable of more, though understood that what they have been through this year might have caught up with them.
“I am really pleased with the fight in the last quarter and we almost made it, everyone tried their guts out and wanted to win. We just didn’t have it in the tank tonight,” she said.
“I’ve seen over the last few weeks different teams in the comp having little lulls because of all the stuff that has gone on and maybe we had ours tonight. Just not our night.
“I think maybe the one-day turnaround was a little bit too short for us, especially with all of the injuries we have had over the last week.
“We kept getting back to within five or six and fight but could never quite get closer than that, so that continual fightback probably took it out of us as well.”
Despite no longer being in finals contention Anderson said the Firebirds are determined to bounce back and win their final match of the season against the Melbourne Vixens next Wednesday.
“We showed what we can do in the last seven minutes of the game and almost come away with the win. So six days rest now to turn that around and really finish off on a positive note,” Anderson said.
“I think after a loss like that you can dwell on the bad stuff, but the reality is we have played really well for the last four or five weeks before that, so we just have to focus on that.”
The Queensland Firebirds’ hopes of playing finals were taken away from them on Thursday night after a seven-goal loss to Collingwood Magpies at Nissan Arena.
In what was a big occasion for the Firebirds, who hosted their inaugural Pride Match, a late charge in the final quarter wasn’t enough to stop them from going down, 59-66.
Speaking after the match coach Megan Anderson said she knew the Firebirds were capable of more, though understood that what they have been through this year might have caught up with them.
“I am really pleased with the fight in the last quarter and we almost made it, everyone tried their guts out and wanted to win. We just didn’t have it in the tank tonight,” she said.
“I’ve seen over the last few weeks different teams in the comp having little lulls because of all the stuff that has gone on and maybe we had our tonight. Just not our night.
“I think maybe the one-day turnaround was a little bit too short for us, especially with all of the injuries we have had over the last week.
“We kept getting back to within five or six and fight but could never quite get closer than that, so that continual fightback probably took it out of us as well.”
Despite no longer being in finals contention Anderson said the Firebirds are determined to bounce back and win their final match of the season against the Melbourne Vixens next Wednesday.
“We showed what we can do in the last seven minutes of the game and almost come away with the win. So six days rest now to turn that around and really finish off on a positive note,” Anderson said.
“I think after a loss like that you can dwell on the bad stuff, but the reality is we have played really well for the last four or five weeks before that, so we just have to focus on that.”
