Rockbank caused a stunning Anzac Day upset in the Riddell District Football League on Friday, with the Rams running all over the ladder-leading Sunbury Kangaroos to record a thrilling victory.
In the second Anzac Day clash between the two clubs, the Rams went in as heavy underdogs following two bad losses to start the year, but they took every chance that came their way to wrap up a 13.5 (83) to 9.9 (63) win.
With a swirling breeze at Ian Cowie Reserve making kicking for goal difficult, it took 10 minutes for the first major, with Sunbury’s John Baker eventually breaking through.
Sunbury kicked the next two, but Rockbank responded with three in the final five minutes of the term to keep the game tight.
A stirring quarter-time address from Rockbank coach Robbie Lynch sparked the home side into action, his players bursting the game open upon resumption.
Two long-range goals in the opening minutes gave the Rams the lead.
The Kangaroos had few answers as Rockbank went on to kick five unanswered goals.
Sunbury kicked a solitary goal for the quarter, while Rockbank was kicking them from everywhere as it skipped out to a 32-point lead.
It was a battle of attrition for much of the rest of the afternoon.
The Kangaroos “won” both the remaining quarters but failed to close the gap significantly.
After matching the Roos goal-for-goal in the last quarter, it was the Rams who were singing their song at the end of the day.
The stunning turnaround in form was pleasing for Lynch.
But more important were the lessons his players will take into the rest of the season.
“When you’ve got a game plan that you want to put in place and you see it executed, that’s always very pleasing,” Lynch said.
“There’s definitely still some holes that we want to address, but this certainly sends a message to the rest of the competition that when you come to play Rockbank you’re in for a fight.
“You can train all you want and you can see the glimpses here and there, but the whole point of footy is putting it together out on the park where it matters.
“To take a bit of that Anzac spirit into the game, the ferociousness and toughness, the guys really took that with them out onto the ground today.”
