Thick fog and pools of mud welcomed Kilmore as it headed to Kinglake Memorial Oval on Saturday to face the top-placed side.
In the dreary conditions, a mud-soaked Kilmore side went down 4.7 (31) to Kinglake 11.16 (82).
In the opening quarter, the Lakers took the lead early, leading by 20 points and extended their lead to 32-points heading into halftime.
Kinglake kicked four goals to Kilmore’s one in the third term but the Blues managed to contain the Lakers to one goal in the fourth quarter.
Kilmore’s coach Paul Derrick said the side struggled to do the ‘little things’ on the day.
“We didn’t do the little one percenters like manning up when we had to or protecting our teammates over the footy. I also think they spread out better than we did,” he said.
“It was just the little moments that hurt us bad and that hurt us on the scoreboard. Just silly things that cost us badly and they were also a very good side.”
Kilmore’s forwards showed improvement, consistently scoring each quarter – something the side had struggled with since the round eight Fitzroy Stars game.
“We’re constantly working on set shots. But the forwards just look like they’re working harder now,” Derrick said.
“The forwards sort of seemed like they were bludging for a little bit but now they’re working harder. We’re starting to get some goals on the board and we kicked a couple.”
Kilmore’s two captains Michael Marrett and Leigh Irons were again solid contributors, along with Jake Beattie and Grant Paxton.
“Everyone tried hard – it was just the little things that let us down again,” Derrick said.
“The backline are up against it when sides are coming in there like Kinglake, and it was very tough conditions.
“Free kicks killed us but the backline is going well. The backline has probably been the best part of most of the year, even though the scoreboard might say differently.
“They’re under a lot of pressure. I think it goes in there an average of 40 or 50 times a game so they’re holding up alright.”
Sixteen-year-old Benjamin Doyle played his second game for the side, playing his first in round one against Laurimar.
He kicked his first goal for the senior side on Saturday.
Derrick said Doyle’s ability to play in more senior games was restricted by the Northern Football Netball League rule allowing players to play only four senior games before he was not allowed to go back to his junior team.
“Apart from that rule, he’s going well and a promising young kid. He is very young,” he said.
The Blues have a bye this weekend and Derrick said the side would continue to work on every facet of their game.
“We’ll just keep training these kids and hopefully improving them,” he said.
“I hope we’ll get better and better as the year rolls on but we’re running out of time.”
In division one Whittlesea lost to Heidelberg in an away game on Saturday, 5.6 (36) to 14.14 (98).
Trailing by 16-points going into halftime, the Eagles were scoreless in the third quarter as the Tigers pulled out to a 53-point lead.
Best players for Whittlesea included captain Xavier Dimasi, Stephen Dempsey and Blake Watson.
This Saturday, Whittlesea play Bundoora at home.
