Tara Murray
Consistency across the playing group is the key for Roxburgh Park going forward in the Essendon District Football League division 1.
The Magpies sit 5-3 after losses to the two top teams in their most recent two losses.
Magpies coach Michael Farrelly said while they were happy to be 5-3 it was a double edged sword.
The side currently sits sixth, but teams from third to sixth are equal on points.
“We’ve had a lot of close wins,” he said.
“Late last year we had a group of 22 players in form in the back half of last year and got the wins.
“This year we’ve had a group of 10-12 who played well for three or four weeks. We were trying to get the others going. Now it’s the flip side, the others have found form but that other group has now let up a bit.”
Farrelly said the up and down form, along with their two losses against the top sides, had provided some real learning curves for the team.
He said the loss against Tullamarine they just weren’t able to get their hands on the football in the second half and at times were lazy.
“It’s the small things that matter,” he said. “The scoreboard was unflattering, but we were competitive for periods.”
Farrelly’s motto of growth each year under his coaching has not changed. The side won six of their 12 games last year, including their last four.
“The first half has been reasonable,” he said. “We want to get a few more wins and finish around the eight to 10 win mark.
“It continues to be about growth and moving forward each year. It was always going to be a slow build.
“We’re confident where we’re taking the team.”
Farrelly said there was a lot of individual growth among the playing group.
Teronne Roberts-Potter, at just 18, has become one of the side’s and competitions best markers.
Luke Reichelt and Brock McLarty are continuing to come along too.
Farrelly said having played the top two in recent weeks, means they will face some of the sides around them and below them on the ladder the next few weeks.
This week they face the winless Sunbury Kangaroos.
“The next few weeks we want a high ratio of wins to losses.”
