Melton Centrals’ early claims for the most improved team in the Riddell District Football League have been bolstered with a win against Broadford on Saturday.
The win was Centrals’ third in the first four rounds and they were more than competitive in their only loss against Romsey.
Centrals secured its third win of the season, with a comfortable 21.9 (135)-11.7 (73).
Last season Centrals won just two matches, both against Rockbank, which failed to win a game.
For first-year Centrals coach Mathew Sproule the results are invigorating the playing group.
“We are playing some pretty good footy and improving every week,” he said. “We’ve been doing things well and getting the results we deserve. The effort is fantastic and it helps with the buy-in with what we’ve been trying to do.
“We’re keeping things pretty simple and we’re playing how we want to play.”
Despite entering the game full of confidence and as favourites at the weekend, Centrals focused on continuing their game plan.
“It was another opportunity to keep improving and win another game,” Sproule said. “Ten minutes into the second quarter we kicked six goals in a row and took control of the game.
“The third quarter we had a 10-minute break with an injured player, but the boys responded well and finished off the game well.”
Sproule said Linton Hogan was taken to hospital with a neck injury in the incident which halted play in the third quarter, but was not seriously injured.
He said the club would ask the league to investigate the incident.
Stuart Lowe, one of three ruckmen the Centrals are playing, kicked four goals and spent most of the game up forward. Jared Scott and Michael Egan also kicked four goals.
Samuel Apineru and Trent Kreeck were best on ground.
Sproule said Centrals are aware the competition will get harder in the coming weeks with games against some of the top sides.
“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Sproule said.
“We still have a long way to go and this is a chance to test ourselves. Romsey was in front of the Sunbury Kangaroos for three quarters and they defeated Diggers Rest. We stuck with Romsey for most of our game.
“As long as we play well we’ll be competitive. It’s a tough month ahead.”
In other RDFL games, Diggers Rest suffered its first loss of the season in a upset result against Romsey.
In a low-scoring affair, the Redbacks defeated the Burras 6.11 (47)-6.5 (41).
Rockbank was competitive against Wallan for most of its match, but still suffered a 17.12 (114)-8.6 (54) loss.
