Tara Murray
Roxburgh Park responded from its worst performance in years to get a vital win against Rupertswood in the Essendon District Football League division 1.
Having dropped a match to Hillside the week before, the Magpies were put to task on the training track during the week.
It looked like they were headed for another defeat early, with the Sharks leading by 33 points at the first break.
Magpies coach Michael Farrelly challenged the group at quarter time and they responded. They managed to peg back the margin and hit the front in the last quarter.
They would stay there, winning 15.10 (100)-13.13 (91).
Farrelly said the side continued to be inconsistent, which was frustrating.
“We were 45 points down in the first quarter,” he said. “They kicked the first of the second quarter as well.
“The match was the same as we played them in round two. They did it to us, after we were 40 something points up.
“This time was copy and paste, but the roles were reversed.”
Farrelly said he gave the side a clip at quarter time and asked them to be more physical and have more pressure.
He said the third quarter was really pleasing, as they outscored the Sharks who had the breeze that term.
“It set up the last quarter,” he said. “It was a good win, considering we were missing a couple of players.”
Matthew Patane kicked five goals and Raafat Rachrache kicked three in the win. The score was the Magpies highest for the season.
Farrelly said kicking a score reiterates to him as a coach that they have the right structure and things in place to be a good side.
He was also happy how the group responded after the previous week.,
“It was the most disappointing loss in my time at the club,” he said.
“Not what we play for. We were more aggressive on the training and more vocal. We put the pressure on to run and carry, cause against Hillside we didn’t do that.”
The win moves the Magpies a game clear of the Sharks and Westmeadows in the battle for fourth spot.
Farrelly said this week’s game against Craigieburn was a mini final for them.
“It’s a massive danger game,” he said.
“If we can win that and then focus on week to week. It will keep us in good stead coming into September.”
In other matches, Tullamarine had to pull out all the stops to beat Moonee Valley.
The Demons trailed throughout the first half, before hitting the front in the third quarter. The Fog had the wind in the final quarter and while able to kick the only goals of the quarter, fell just short, losing 8.16 (64)-9.9 (63).
Westmeadows fell just short against West Coburg, losing 12.8 (80)-10.13 (73).
The Tigers had led at every break.
In premier division, Greenvale snuck home against Glenroy. The Jets winning, 11.14 (80)-10.10 (70).
