There are times in a game where teams have no option but to kick it long to a contest. We've been killed in those situations for a few years; not only because we had no-one who could create a contest, but because once the ball got to ground it was quickly rebounded and we were hurt going the other way.
Matera is never going to be an elite defensive forward, but I thought an underrated part of his game yesterday was getting to the fall of the ball to at least force a ball up when we went long. I'm not sure if that was on instruction, or just his natural reaction to having actual targets in the forward line. Either way it was pleasing to see.