Panmure coach Chris Bant took plenty of positives from his team's loss to Nirranda but admitted it was also a reality check.
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The Bulldogs raced out of the gates with a two-goal quarter-time lead but Nirranda came back and claimed a 14.10 (94) to 9.6 (60) victory at Panmure Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
"I thought we probably proved that we can match it with the top sides when we're on and we're going well and our pressure is up," Bant said.
"But we also proved that we're not a good enough side for us to let that slip."
Bant conceded that the game was lost in the second quarter when Nirranda slammed on six goals to none.
The Bulldogs mentor said consistency was the big difference between his side and Nirranda.
"I think we can get to that level at times but we don't seem to be there for the 120 minutes whereas they probably are," he said.
Bant said it was a good learning experience to play the reigning premier.
"The way they move the footy, they make good decisions and they move it sideways and then go forward," he said.
"We probably just kick down the line a little bit too much and kick to packs.
"It probably comes down to them working a bit harder and having a loose man across the middle of the ground."
Panmure dropped one place to seventh on the ladder after South Rovers caused a massive upset against second-paced Old Collegians to claim a spot in the five.
Nirranda co-coach Shane Threlfall was pleased with his side's sixth win in a row.
He admitted it was a tough contest.
"We certainly had to put our heads over the footy and fight hard but I thought also our skills level at times enabled us to get some goals," he said.
"So working on the skills certainly paid off."
Threlfall was happy with the Blues' skills because that'd been the focus of training for the past month.
Earlier in the season Threlfall told The Standard he expected the Blues to be stronger in the second half of the season.
He believes they are rising.
"We've certainly improved in a lot of areas, obviously early in year we were a but underdone in terms of fitness," he said.
"So our fitness levels are getting back to where they should be, our skill level is now really good and we're holding our structures pretty well but we still need to work a little bit on that."
The 34-point win meant Nirranda replaced Old Collegians as second on the ladder.
The Blues and Warriors will face-off in a fortnight.
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