The positive signs for Rockbank continue, but now the focus is on playing well for a full four quarters in the Riddell District Football League.
The Rams enter the Queen’s Birthday bye weekend 1-6, but have improved on their position this time last season.
They’ve been in the mix in at least another three games, but were left to rue one poor quarter.
Rams’ co-coach Leigh Sporle said the club’s focus was now on trying to ensure they were switched on for the full four quarters.
“We were pretty unlucky against Melton Centrals and we were poor for a quarter against Wallan and the same with Riddell,” he said. “The top-four sides are hard to beat but we think we can be competitive against the sides outside that.
“We just have lapses of concentration where we’re not switched on for a quarter.”
On Saturday against Riddell, it was the final quarter that proved to be the Rams’ downfall.
While the Bombers led all game, the Rams kept the margin within six goals for most of the game.
The Bombers kicked away in the last quarter and a half to win 15.17 (107) – 7.14 (56).
Sporle said it had been a pleasing performance for most of the day as the team played most of the game a man down, with one of their best players Ricky Cameron going off injured in the first quarter.
“We were in the hunt for the majority of the day,” Sporle said. “Scores were pretty much even with the amount of points both sides kicked but if we had have kicked straight it would have been closer.
“We missed four or five really get-able goals. We were right there with them, but they were a little bit more classy.”
Alan Greenwood and Mark Stevens kicked two goals each for the Rams, and Tom Evans was named their best.
Sporle said despite only one win entering this week’s bye, they were buoyant by what they had seen so far.
He said as the side continues to gel and grow, he expected a few more wins to come.
“We’re learning as we go and I think we’ll surprise a few sides in the second half of the season,” he said.
“Once we get more wins we’ll get more confidence.
“We’ve only won one game in two years really, so we need to play our best football against whoever we’re playing.
“We’re filming games and going to more analysing and what we need to do.”
In other matches, Diggers Rest made it three wins in a row, with a big victory against Lancefield, winning 25.18 (168) – 5.3 (33).
Melton Centrals were in the game with Wallan until three-quarter time, before fading in the final quarter, losing 16.13 (109) – 7.4 (46).
