Rupertswood will go back to the drawing board after another failure in Riddell District Football League finals.
The Sharks have played in finals each of the three years they have been in the competition but are yet to record a victory.
This year, after finishing third on the ladder the Sharks were comprehensively beaten around the ground by Broadford in their elimination final.
The Kangaroos won 8.3 (51) – 5.7 (37) – a scoreline that flattered the Sharks.
Sharks coach Ben Jordan said it was some of the worst football he had seen by the team in his time as coach. “To be completely honest, we played really poor,” he said.
“We fumbled, double handled the ball and dropped easy marks. It was way below what we expected … it was disappointing that we played that way.”
Jordan said he was happy with the first quarter even though his team failed to kick a goal.
“We were happy we were in the contest at quarter-time after Broadford kicked with the wind in the first quarter,” he said.
“The second quarter was the worst quarter of football I have seen. We were not able to take scoring opportunities and weren’t accountable.”
Despite playing poorly, the Sharks were only trailing by 16 points at half-time.
“It was never going to be a high-scoring game,” Jordan said.
“We gave ourselves the chance but we didn’t take it. Broadford pushed numbers around the ball and made it really hard.
“After they got an a couple of early goals in the last quarter, the game was over.
“We kicked the last two to three goals once the game was over.
“It flattered us. A five or six-goal margin was more the difference between the sides.”
Jordan said some of the younger guys were the ones who stepped up for the Sharks.
“Dylan Podolczak handled the ball really clearly, Nathan Caldone in his second game for the year played well,” he said.
“Damon Cerini was another … it was a struggle to nominate the five best players.”
Jordan said the loss was hard to take.
“It’s hard to pick up the pieces the day after we have under-performed like that.
“We have not won a final in the RDFL … for the club to move forward we need to make sure we are starting to win finals.
“Whether that involves bringing in outsiders or recruiting experienced players, that’s something that has to be talked about.
“I’m proud of the efforts throughout the year. We played well for 95 per cent of the season.”
Tara Murray
