Tara Murray
Roxburgh Park is starting to find its feet in the Essendon District Football League division 1 competition.
After a slow start to the season, the Magpies have won three of their last four games including their last two.
Magpies coach Micheal Farrelly said pre-season they knew it was going to take some time to get going.
“We have now won three out of our four games,” he said. “Keilor Park were sitting 3-1 and Hillside were up and about and it was really exciting.
“We’re still getting there and there’s still things to work on
On Saturday, the Magpies hosted Keilor Park in an important game. The Devils have been one of the surprise packets of the season so far.
The Devils led at quarter time before the Magpies hit the front in the second term by six points, despite having six more scoring shorts.
The Magpies still weren’t able to make the most of their dominance in the third quarter, leading by just two points at the last break.
Four goals to two in the final quarter gave the Magpies a 9.16 (70)-8.7 (55) win.
Farrelly said they had a few nervous moments in the second half.
“We didn’t kick straight,” he said. “We led in all the other key areas and stats, but it would have been nice to have got some icing on the cake.
“It didn’t feel that windy out there. We were missing goals 10 metres out, half our points were from set shots.
“We had a stinker in front of goals. At one stage they were coming back and the only thing I would have said to them if we lost the game was that we dominated around the ground, but we didn’t convert.”
Nathan Carroll was the only multiple goal kicker for the Magpies with two goals.
Luke Reichelt, Carroll and Ahmed Hamdan were named their best.
The Magpies now sit in sixth spot, one of four teams with a 3-2 record.
Farrelly said they are only going to get better.
“Defensively we’re keeping sides to low scores and we have the ability to kick big scores,” he said.
“We’re starting to gel and learning who is left footed and who is right footed, who swings and who holds.
“It’s starting to come to fruition which is exciting.”
The Magpies this week face Glenroy which Farrelly said would be another test.
In other division 1 matches, it was a tough day for Tullamarine and Westmeadows.
The Demons proved no match for St Albans, losing 16.10 (106)-6.5 (41).
It was top against bottom in Westmeadows match with West Coburg, with West Coburg winning 23.15 (152)-5.4 (34).
In premier division, Greenvale upset Aberfeldie.
The Jets won at every break in the 14.9 (93)-11.8 (74).
