Tara Murray
Melton Centrals spoiled the Western Rams party on the opening day for the Riddell District Football League season.
Heading into the standalone match with the Rams, all the talk was about the Rams and Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan pulling on the jumper.
But it was Centrals who gained an early ascendency and were never headed in the 11.6 (72)-2.2 (14) win.
Centrals coach Matt Sproule in his return to the role said for then they didn’t really worry about Swan.
“We didn’t really worry about it, he’s a champ of the game,” he said. “The Western Rams wanted him to play and we were more than happy to accommodate that… hopefully they made a bit of money.
“It didn’t affect us, he would have worried us more if he had played out of the square, but he didn’t.”
Sproule said they were happy with the result and getting the first game under their belt.
He said windy conditions didn’t help with scoring though.
Cramp hit several players midway through the third quarter and it was something Sproule had to manage throughout the last quarter.
“We cramped up half way through the third, we probably should have won by another five if we ran the game out,” he said.
“At three quarter time, the message was hold onto the footy as much as we can, I don’t care if we score.
“Just get through the game and then we lost Jimmy Roberts, who has been our best midfielder all pre-season with an AC injury.”
Sproule said he wasn’t worried about the number of players cramping. He said there were a couple of reasons for that.
“Last week when we played the practice match we had six quarters in 26 degree heat,” he said.
“We only had 27 and a lot played six quarters last week,
“Early in the week we then had flu like symptoms through the joint, we didn’t train Tuesday night.
“They were a bit lethargic Thursday night and I think that carried on today.”
Dylan Jobson kicked three goals for Centrals, while Jake Armistead and Matthew Eberle kicked two goals each.
Ruck Evan Donoghue, who is just 19, and Armistead, who is returning after not playing for seven years, were Centrals best.
For the Rams, it was single goal kickers. Laughlan Orr was named their best, while Swan, who spent most of the game in the back half, was also named in the best.
Sproule, who is in his second stint as coach at Centrals, said he was enjoying being back in the coaching hot seat.
“I’ve loved the last two months,” he said. “They’re a great bunch of blokes.
“I didn’t’ know what we had had. They’re a group of kids, all 12 to 25 and they are just starting their journey and I reckon at the end of these two years when I finish, I think they’ll be in a good position.”
