Using attitude and spirit as indicators, it makes little sense Rockbank has not won a senior football game this season.
While struggling on the scoreboard in the Riddell District Football League, spirits are high and off field the club is in a better position than it has been for the past few years despite facing a challenging rebuilding process.
Rams senior coach Gavin Sporle said scoreboard results aside, everything was on track for the senior side.
On Saturday, the Rams suffered their biggest loss for the season against a skillful Riddell unit.
The game was over at quarter-time, with the Bombers rampaging to a 33.20 (218)-1.1 (7) win.
“The scoreboard is disappointing, but it’s not our focus,” Sporle said.
“We’re rebuilding from the ground up and working hard on developing a team. There’s encouraging signs.”
One of those signs is that people want to be involved at the Rams.
They are fielding three senior teams and, at the other end of the scale, have got the club’s Auskick program going again.
“We’ve had excellent numbers on track and available each week,” Sporle said.
“We were concerned about the under-18s and reserves … getting all sides on the ground was one of the main goals.
“We’ve fielded a full side in the reserves every week and in the under-18s we’ve had 16 to 19 players. We’ve more players on the track than we’ve had for years.”
For more pictures of Saturday’s game, CLICK HERE
The benefits of greater numbers of players attending training is showing on the field.
“Players are starting to contribute more on the track,” Sporle said.
“We can focus on individual development and teach them during the week, instead of on the fly during games – which we had been doing.”
Sporle highlighted the Cameron brothers, Harley and Ricky, along with Alan and Thomas Greenwood, as players who had come up from the under-18s and were playing well.
“I had expectations from them– I know they are young guys we can build a club around,” he said.
Recruits Jake and Jared Warwick and Patrick Lake are also showing good signs.
Things don’t get any easier for the Rams – after the Queens Birthday weekend bye, they will face undefeated Diggers Rest.
“We’ve got a tough run of games,” Sporle said. “The main thing is for the players to learn off the opposition – that’s one of the hardest things.”
In other results, Diggers Rest smashed Woodend-Hesket, Wallan shocked Sunbury Kangaroos, Romsey thrashed Melton Centrals, Broadford defeated Rupertswood and Macedon remain undefeated after beating Lancefield.
