Roxburgh Park has let slip an opportunity to all but ensure it stays in Essendon District Football League division 1.
Facing a winless Oak Park side, the Magpies would have been three games clear of the Kangaroos had they got the win.
Instead, the Magpies are on the bottom of the table with Oak Park and Taylors Lakes.
Magpies coach Michael Farrelly said his side got taught a lesson in the 14.14 (98)-6.16 (52) loss.
“It was pretty disappointing,” he said. “We were treating it as a grand final. Being a young group, maybe a few guys got ahead of themselves and thought they could just roll up and play.
“It’s a good lesson for a young group at the higher level.”
The Magpies kicked the first two goals of the game and the first goals in three of the four quarters.
But there was little else to celebrate as the Kangaroos extended their lead in every quarter.
“Oak Park came out to ready and they wanted it more than we did,” Farrelly said.
“We struggled to adapt and were flat. It came down to a number of factors.”
Luke Capuano kicked four goals for the Magpies and was one of their best alongside Jay Barbera, Jamie Grant and Tom Baker.
Farrelly said such a performance was disappointing given the side’s recent form.
“We had some big wins [in recent weeks],” he said.
“We’d done some good work. We took a step backwards in that game.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Roxburgh Park vs Oak Park
Farrelly said injuries to some of their experienced players hadn’t helped.
Farrelly has returned to the field in recent weeks to help fill that void, while skipper Harley Short was a game-time decision having been battling illness.
The Magpies are one of three teams in the relegation battle.
Both the Magpies and Taylors Lakes have two wins apiece, while Oak Park has one win, but has had two byes.
“I’m glad we have those two wins … we worked hard for them,” he said.
“If we’ve have a couple of wins and still looking at relegation, we can still say we had a crack.”
In other results, Craigieburn beat Westmeadows 18.10 (118)-10.10 (70) in their top four clash .
Brock Chircop and John Bellino kicked four goals each for the Eagles.
Tullamarine had a day out against Taylors Lakes, winning 25.20(170)-10.7 (67).
Brad Allen kicked eight goals.
In premier division, Greenvale’s tough run continued in a 15.16 (106)-9.9 (63) loss to Pascoe Vale.
The Jets remain in the top four, but are only percentage ahead of fifth-placed Strathmore.
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