Roxburgh Park has been just a bit “off” in the past three rounds of Essendon District Football League division 2 – and has been made to pay.
With six of the seven teams fighting for finals spots, a mistake here or there could mean missing out.
After a string a good results put the Magpies on top of the table, three straight losses, by a combined 24 points, have seen them slip to fourth.
Magpies coach Michael Farrelly said it had been frustrating.
“We’ve had a fun few weeks,” he said. “We haven’t lost by huge margins. We’ve been five to 10 per cent off … we’re not far off the mark.
“We’ve been in games right up to the last two to three minutes, but for whatever reason we’re not getting the wins.”
That was the case on Saturday when the Magpies lost to ladder leaders the Northern Saints 13.12 (90)-11.12 (78).
It was an up-and-down game for the Magpies, who trailed by 20 points at half-time.
The Magpies didn’t make the most of their chances in the third quarter and trailed by one point at the last break.
They took the lead early in the last quarter, but they couldn’t hold on for the win.
Farrelly said the Saints showed them what it wook.
“They dug deep and get it going their way,” he said. “A little bit of lack of discipline cost us. They showed us what we had to get better at.”
Luke Capuano kicked seven goals and was named the Magpies’ best.
Farrelly said Dale Rigby and Adrian Mackinnon, who got moved forward, were the other stand-outs.
Farrelly said they would look at the way they prepared for games in their bid to return to the winners’ list.
With six rounds to go, the Magpies have 36 points.
The Magpies this week face Coburg Districts.
“It’s a massive game for us,” Farrelly said.
“It’s a do-or-die game, a mini-final. If we don’t get the win, we’ll be in trouble.
“You have to be on the mark every game. If we improve that five to 10 per cent, hopefully we should be alright.”
In premier division, Greenvale defeated Pascoe Vale 13.16 (94)-10.4 (64). The Jets are third, percentage behind the top two teams.
