By Tara Murray
Rockbank’s hopes of a second win for the Riddell District Football League season were dashed by Broadford on Saturday.
With only one win between the two sides for the season, both sniffed an opportunity to get the points and belt out the song.
A period in the third quarter proved to be the difference as the Kangaroos got their first win with a 13.14 (92)-9.13 (67) scoreline.
Rams coach Leigh McInerney was disappointed.
He said the club fielded one of its strongest sides for the season and had been confident of getting a win on what was a big day for Broadford, with Sean Duggan playing game 200.
“We played pretty well for much of the day,” McInerney said. “We struggled for five to 10 minutes in the third quarter, which we couldn’t afford to do.”
Outside that quarter, little separated the two teams, with both kicking eight goals in the other three quarters.
Braedon Billing was the Rams’ best player, kicking three goals from the wing. Harley Cameron was the other standout.
The Rams – bottom of the ladder, 0.28 per cent behind the Kangaroos – will face Woodend-Hesket and Sunbury Kangaroos in the final two rounds.
McInerney said they would love to steal a win in the run home.
“It’s been a pretty tough season,” he said. “We haven’t had the cattle and injuries haven’t helped us.
“Hopefully, we can get some good numbers on the track and keep trying to improve.
“We’re getting better in certain areas and periods of play look good – it’s just about getting that consistency.”
McInerney said they would sit down with players this week and start re-signing them for next season.
After two years in the role, one as co-coach, McInerney said he was unsure whether he would continue on.
In other matches, Diggers Rest’s second-half comeback fell just short against Wallan.
The Burras were held goaless until late in the first half and trailed by 25 points at the main break, despite having the same number of scoring shots as Wallan.
The Burras kicked three goals in the third quarter to reduce the margin to 18 points at three-quarter time.
They levelled the scores in the last quarter, but the Magpies pulled ahead again to post a 10.7 (67)-8.16 (64).
The Burras have slipped to fourth with the loss.
Melton Centrals’ giant-killing run came to an end at the hands of Macedon.
The Cats were way too strong, winning 13.11 (89)-2.8 (20). Dylan Weir was the only goal scorer for the Centrals.
The loss ends any chance of Centrals making the finals.
