ROCKBANK is delivering on its quiet confidence of being in the Riddell District Football League finals mix after a 17-point win against Kilmore at the weekend.
The Rams have three wins from the first five games this season to sit seventh on the table after the 10.8 (68) to 8.3 (51) win at Ian Cowie Reserve.
Rockbank lost a number of close games last season to ultimately claim sixth place.
It started the season with an 18-point loss to Woodend.
But a 102-point thrashing against Macedon aside, the Rams have won by eight, 14 and now 17 points, evidence that the tide is turning their way in close finishes.
Playing coach John Cott, from Laverton and new to the club this year, said that outside the top five teams the expectation was for a close contest every week. “We’re happy with the performances, but we can’t forget that we have the likes of Sunbury, Romsey and Riddell coming up,” Cott said.
“In the Macedon game … a few things didn’t go our way with injury and after half-time we had no bench. Two guys who basically couldn’t run were out on the ground.”
Rockbank trailed by 12 points at quarter-time but reversed the situation to lead at the long break and turn up by 13 at the last change.
Cott said that in spite of the troubles against Macedon, list depth was good and morale at the club was high.
“I thought in the last quarter Kilmore found ways to frustrate us. They had combinations on the flanks that were really working for them and I could see that they’ve improved a lot from the scores against them early in the season. What I like from our guys is that we played 120 minutes. No matter what time of the game you’ve got to give it your utmost.
“We’ve got 22 solid footballers, not too many superstars, but the attitude is fantastic.”
Cott praised Darren Hulett’s willingness to battle for contested possessions and the workrate of fellow onballer Bryce Hall.
Matthew Bellingham was Rockbank’s top goalkicker with four.
RDFL: Round 5
Melton Central 10.5 (65) lt Wallan 17.18 (120)
GOALS – Melton Central: Brett Payne 3, Paul Henderson, Ryan Nelson, Adam Fenton 2, Scott Matthews.
Wallan: Glenn Poorter 5, Joshua Barber 3, Ben Schraven, Todd Muldoon 2, David Cornish, Rhys Frost, Zeb Fleming, Matthew Robertson, Morgan Smith
BEST – Melton Central: Johnathan O’Brien, Scott Matthews, Christopher Carassellos, Shane Frederickson, Brett Payne, Chris Lock
Wallan: Brandon Hooper, Matthew Robertson, Shannon Galea, Harrison Trotman, Glenn Poorter, Todd Keenan
Rockbank 10.8 (68) d Kilmore 8.3 (51)
GOALS – Rockbank: Matthew Bellingham 4, Matthew Edwards, Russell Rich 2, Scott Bell, Jackson Spencer
Kilmore: Steven Kenna 3, Daniel Robinson, Trent Kelly, Oliver Duff, Robert Peckham, Sean Abela
BEST – Rockbank: Darren Hulett, Bryce Hall, Matthew Bellingham, Russell Rich, Matthew Edwards, Thomas Mainey
Kilmore: Michael Marrett, Thomas Snaith, Matthew Zanini, Travis Hede, Damien King, Brent Gordon
Woodend Hesket 4.4 (28) lt Diggers Rest 18.6 (114)
GOALS – Woodend Hesket: Chris Forde 2, Brendan Fennell, James Hepburn
Diggers Rest: Daniel McCabe 6, Brent Tuckey 4, Stephen Ruane 3, Craig Marshall, Joseph Piccolo 2, Tom Evans
BEST – Woodend Hesket: Matthew Quinn, Jesse Sheppard, Jesse Waters, Daniel Martin, Chris Forde, Luke Macklin
Diggers Rest: Daniel McCabe, Shaun Sims, Cameron Woods, Dylan Hannan, Brent Tuckey, Craig Marshall
Others: Lancefield 5.4 (34) lt Riddell 27.11 (173), Romsey 11.13 (79) d Sunbury Kangaroos 10.12 (72), Macedon 9.13 (67) d Broadford 1.1 (7)
LADDER: Diggers Rest 20, Sunbury Kangaroos 16 (273 per cent), Macedon 16 (272), Romsey 16 (194), Riddell 12 (153), Wallan 12 (88), Rockbank 12 (78), Melton Central 8, Broadford 4 (56), Woodend Hesket 4 (56), Kilmore 0 (52), Lancefield
0 (15)
NETBALL A GRADE: Macedon 55 d Broadford 44, Melton Central 49 d Wallan 34, Rockbank 34 d Kilmore 23, Diggers Rest 47 d Woodend 25
LADDER: Melton Central 20, Broadford 18 (277 per cent), Macedon 18 (200), Romsey 16 (192), Riddell 16 (119), Wallan 8 (107), Diggers Rest 8 (75), Rockbank 8 (47), Woodend-Hesket 0 (50), Kilmore 0 (36)
ROUND 6: Diggers Rest v Broadford, Woodend Hesket v Lancefield, Wallan v Sunbury Kangaroos, Rockbank v Riddell, Kilmore v Macedon, Melton Central v Romsey
