This year’s finals have been a long time coming for Roxburgh Park in Essendon District Football League’s division 2.
The Magpies, on top of the ladder for most of the season and assured of a top-two spot, appear to have succumbed to complacency in recent weeks.
PICTURE GALLERY | Roxburgh Park v East Sunbury
“We’ve gone from working hard to win matches to expecting to win them,” coach Paul Derrick said.
“We needed to change that.”
Derrick said there were signs his team was getting back to its best football on Saturday, albeit against bottom side East Sunbury. The Magpies won easily, 20.24 (144) to 1.8 (14).
“There were good signs for us, especially with the attack on the ball both ways,’’ he said.
‘‘The run and carry was a lot better than
it has been.”
Derrick said Matt Walker, Nikolas Dimeski and ruckman Brendan Doman were among the better players. And the Magpies were likely to enter the finals with a full list to choose from.
“Blokes who have had niggles, we haven’t taken risks with and have rested them when we could.’’
Derrick said there was a buzz at the club after a lack of finals action in recent years.
“The excitement is on and off the field. There’s a bit of belief in the side.
“The pressure is on from our players in the under-18s and twos, so the players know they can’t have a relaxed game.”
On Saturday, the Magpies will face Moonee Valley, which is in a battle to secure the last finals spot. Joining Valley in the fight for fourth are Jacana and Keilor Park, all three sides being on 32 points.
Jacana, which faces Keilor Park in this week’s final round, must bounce back from an 18.18 (126) to 5.11 (41) loss to East Keilor.
East Keilor could have had the game won at quarter time but could only manage a return of 1.10.
