Coaches Report - R11
A's; B's & C's, LOSA vs Glenunga; & D's vs PAOC
A Grade Match Report: Round 11 v Glenunga
Every week presents a new set of challenges depending on the opponent, location of the game and conditions. We are also presented with a challenge regarding team selection each week, but what is clear and becoming clearer each week and that is the real connection within the group. Saturday was yet another example of this unique connection.
We hit the road Saturday to play Glenunga an opponent who we is a force to reckon on their home deck. Connection was critical within their cauldron.
The opening quarter was a clear indication of the connection when Jake Slivak a late inclusion in the side was an awarded a free kick from an intense tackle in the middle of the ground. He had impacted seamlessly, but moments later he goaled from a contested mark and the celebration from all his teammates on the ground amplified the united connection. While we managed to control the game early in the stanza our opponents used their understanding of their deck and gained some ascendancy from stoppage and finished in front of goal to hold a lead at the break of 23 points.
At the break the clear instructions were to play our way, using our brand and strong connection to slowly and in a controlled way peg back the deficit. Our back 6 Damon Stepic, Darci Best, Hayden Swanbury, Tullio De Matteis , Will Mead and Matty Dnistrainsky built an impenetrable wall closing down any form of movement inside our D50 and with precision started our transition game. James Butterworth, James Warton & Xavier Tranfa with Josh Shute dominated stoppage and Centre Bounce…creating a dominance allowing us to play the game in our front half enabling our forwards, Tom McCormack, Finn Wakelin and Jet Boxer to finish off with 6 goals and restricting our opponents to a solitary point and a lead of 15 points at the main break.
With control back on the scoreboard we again reset to continue to build the scoreboard pressure. The third saw us increase our intensity and our ball movement went to another level, with every player impacting adding a further seven opportunities in front of goal pushing the margin out to 26 points at the final break.
We were not going to be denied with the main focus to win the quarter , the connection piece was completed with Jake Slivak on the end of some quick hands to seal his third for the game and the catalyst for the next 5 goals of the quarter, highlighted by a candidate for mark of the year by Finn Wakelin, the final margin 38 points.
A mature performance on the road and one we will again learn from and look to next week.
Final Score : ROCFC 18.8.116 defeated Glenunga 12.5.78
Goal Kickers : T. McCormack 4, J. Slivak 3, J. Boxer 3, F.Wakelin 3, S. Lanzoni 2, J. Warton 2, C. Butcher 1
Best Players : J. Warton, M .Dnistriansky, X. Tranfa, J. Butterworth, T. McCormack
See you at the footy.
Damian Boots
A Grade & Club Coach
B Grade Match Report: Round 11 2025 v Glenunga
We came into the game this week with our focus and theme being “Our Brand”. We built this week around bringing the season’s themes together to continue to build our brand.
This was the best first quarter of the season and we led at quarter time for the first time all season. We were working hard to maintain a decent lead, but another unfortunate game ending first quarter injury saw us hold on by only a point at the break.
In the second quarter we let our opposition get on top as we took a little time to settle again and found ourselves 2 goals down at the half time break - albeit still having the same scoring shots.
We broke even in the second half and once again the lads fought out the game to get themselves closer to the win that the group thoroughly deserves. I cannot fault the endeavour and the ruthless approach the side brought once again to a team that played in the competition’s Grand Final last year.
Another tight loss and we spoke after the game about continuing the journey together, keeping positive and the wins that this group deserves will follow.
Final Scores: ROCs 7.8 (50) defeated by Glenunga 9.8 (62)
Best Players: D.Huppatz ,M.Daw, L.Matsis, J.Thomas, H.Twiggs
Goal Kickers: D.Huppatz 3, J.Thomas 2, Z.Searle, T.Bradford
Jamie Thomas
B Grade Coach
C Grade Match Report: Round 11 v Glenunga
Considering the personnel missing and changes to the side meant we are consistently changing personnel to keep structure and to the groups credit we executed well in the first stanza. Our second quarter however was flat and to Glenunga’s credit they outworked us and managed to hit the scoreboard. They had some good talls who were difficult to defend with high balls and unfortunately, we when back to down the line with dump kicks and this played into their hands.
After half time we were in a much better frame of mind and played with more purpose and finish with a comfortable yet frustrating win which we have plenty of learnings to work with on and off the track.
The midfield battle was a physical one and Sam Warren, Tom Matsis, Adam Greenwood and Jerome Avlonitis along with Ayman Ismail eventually wore Glenunga down, ably supported by Jaedyn Smith who after putting a decent amount of Grippo on the palms was a lot cleaner and used the ball with entry inside 50.
After half time, Wieu lifted in the ruck allowing Max Aufderheide to play forward and alongside Nick Karagich provided strong leading targets and worked well together. Henry Brasher and first gamer Sam Wakelin who more than showed he is capable at this level worked well as small forwards and between them kicked 5 goals and provided energy and pressure.
Defensively we were a little off in the second term, but after half time when the Barometer Fabian Di lulio moved back into defence we looked much more assured. Harvey Wilson and Daniel Leonard gave us some drive of half back and once we tidied up our kick in strategy we looked much more like us.
Despite not being anywhere near our best, we showed a level of maturity to work through it and get the job done, but we need to be much better as we face a very strong PAC side at home this week.
Final Scores: ROCS 14.10.94 defeated Glenunga 04.08.32
Goal Scorers: Henry Brasher 3, Thomas Matsis 3, Max Aufderheide 2, Nicholas Karagich 2, Sam Wakelin 2, Ayman Ismail 1, Samuel WARREN 1
Best Players: Samuel Warren, Nicholas Karagich, Ayman Ismail, Thomas Matsis, Jayden Smith
Peter Pedersen
C Grade Coach
D Grade Match Report: Round 11 v Prince Alfred Old Collegians
A massive challenge this round as Rocs hosted huge rivals PAOC, with our focus on matching a top 4 side for the full game.
Cold drizzly conditions to start the early morning game but both teams played with some brilliant teamwork and scored accurately as the momentum of control of play switched between the teams. Rocs were relentless in their efforts around the contest & moved the ball with better teamwork to hold a small lead in a high-quality contest as the 1/2-time siren sounded.
1/2-time score Rocs 6-3 vs PAOC 5-1.
Rocs were fully focused on continuing our pressure, quick ball movement and team first attitude forging ahead on the scoreboard to completely dominate general play and finish the forward opportunities created by the team with clinical precision.
Final score Rocs 14.6.90 defeated PAOC 7.9.51
A great result for the Rocs Academy squad who have been working hard on the track, with a host of players performance their best so far this campaign.
Goalkickers- J. McInerney -5, D. Leggett -4, H. Dawson -3, L. Gigos -1, S.Marotti -1.
Best players- D. Leggett, M. Lombardi, J. McInerney, M. Warren, J. Draper, M. Nitschke.
Best team men- L. Piantadosi, C. Pietrafesa, B. Warren, L. Tripodi, W. McDonald.
Steve Edwards
D Grade Coach
Loreto OS 01 03 (09) defeated by Glenunga 06 15 (51) - R11
Goal Scorers: Lucy Franzon 1
Best Players: Jacinta Beltrame, Charlene Lee, Poppy Scaife, Lisa Olive, Olivia Law
