The scoreboards may not look pretty, but the improvement is coming for Rockbank in the Riddell District Football League.
It’s been a tough start for the Rams, with three big losses in their first three matches.
The most recent was on Saturday when they lost to Woodend-Hesket, 31.16 (202)-5.4 (34).
Rams coach Leigh McInerney said the players were working their backsides off.
“I think the gap has widened a bit between the higher and lower teams,” he said.
“We’re looking to improve each week and we are improving.
“The young guys are settling in, but our forward line has struggled.
“We’ve had three to four changes each week, trying to get the mix right, but we’ve got a lack of depth.”
McInerney said they were nowhere near playing their best football.
He said skills and decision-making were letting them down and other teams were making them pay for it.
“There’s a bit of a lack of defensive run and they seem to get the ball through the middle too easy,” McInerney said.
“Our guys have moments when they drop their heads, but it’s not their fault. They are busting their backsides.”
The Rams’ best two players at the weekend were Ricky Cameron and Allan Greenwood.
McInerney said they were leading the way of the younger players.
“Allan showed where he is at with his footy on the weekend,” he said. “The first two games are not up to where he wants to be.
“Along with Ricky they are our two best up-and-comers. We put it on them that they needed to step up a bit more on the weekend. We hold them in pretty high regard.”
The Rams want a change of fortune this weekend against Broadford.
Like the Rams, they are 0-3 and have been on the wrong end of some big losses.
“We definitely try to win every game, but realistically it’s a game we have to win,” McInerney said.
“It will tell us where we are at as a club.
“We haven’t had a hell of a lot of wins the last few years.”
Diggers Rest won its second match with a hard-fought win against Riddell. It took until the final quarter for the Burras to break down the game against the win-less Bombers.
The Burras kicked the only two goals of the final quarter to win, 12.13 (85)-9.13 (67)
Taylor Hine was best on ground.
For a second straight week, Melton Centrals gave up a lead in the second half, this time against Romsey. Centrals led by 18 points at half-time, but could only score two goals in the second half in the 13.11 (89)-10.5 (65) loss.
Dylan Weir kicked four goals for Centrals, while Cooper Pepi was named their best.
