Tara Murray
Melton Centrals have closed the gap in the Riddell District Football League but need to be cleaner with the ball if they are to take the next step.
The Centrals sit 1-3 after the first five rounds, but have been in every single match, including against two of last season’s finalists.
Centrals coach Mathew Sproule said there were a lot of positive signs.
“The pressure is up and our tackling has been the highlight for us in the first four rounds,” he said.
“We are a lot more competitive around the contest, but we have to get our hands on the ball. The competition is even between two and eight and we have been a lot more competitive and we’ve closed the gap.
“We are having 10 minutes lapses that have been the difference the last three weeks.
“We will need some time, we have a young team and they will continue to keep learning.”
On Saturday though the Centrals had their most disappointing performance of the season, losing to Lancefield.
Despite it being a low scoring affair, there was no rain at Lancefield.
Centals got themselves in a good position midway through the third quarter, before the Tigers found another level, especially in the midfield.
The Tigers kicked the last four goals of the game to claim a 6.9 (45)-5.5 (35) win.
“Both teams’ defences made it really hard,” Sproule said. “The ball spent a lot of the game in between the 50s.
“Ten minutes to go in the third quarter we were leading 5.3 to 2.6. They then kicked four goals to none.
“After that they controlled the stoppages and in the contest. Our midfield didn’t respond and we had too many passengers.
“It was disappointing, we were in a winning position.”
Sproule said without watching the replay, he didn’t think they had many winners on the day.
He said Jacob Sinclair did a good tagging job, while Jonathan Ferri did a good job in defence, but there that was about it.
Sproule said they would continue to get better and use the loss to help further their development.
He said outside of the final quarter, they had been happy with how things had been going.
“I can’t question the effort after four weeks, it’s only the last quarter where we dropped off,” he said.
“The effort is there and the pressure has gone up. We haven’t got the class around the footy and don’t have the depth.”
Centrals this week face Woodend-Hesket at Woodend.
The Hawks had a good win on Saturday, beating the Western Rams, 12.16 (88)-1.1 (7) in tough conditions.
In other matches, Wallan beat Macedon 9.12 (66)-3.5 (23) and Romsey upset Riddell, winning 10.5 (65)-6.6 (42).
