Coaches Report Finals Week 2
A's vs SPOC & D's vs SHOC
A Grade Match Report: 1st Semi Final 2025 v SPOC
Seeded during preseason was a real focus to win on the road. During the season we continued to work at our preparation for away clashes. Finals on the road is another level, and it was not lost on us in the lead up to Saturday’s game. We were aware that our opponent had not been beaten on their home deck all season, so the challenge was set. On offer a preliminary final berth.
We were gifted a warm Saturday afternoon with a spice of blustery winds on a fast deck. The toss was important and we kicked to the grandstand end aided by the winds. The Rostrevor support was incredible and from the first bounce they were vocal providing the players with the energy of a home game.
Opening Centre Bounce set the tone …Butterworth straight down to Warton who burst inside 50 with a piercing entry putting our opponents on notice we were here to play. We dominated the quarter holding possession in our front half for a large percentage of game time. Lanzoni kicking the first of the game from a vintage Kemp intercept mark and then Wakelin kicked his first of the game igniting the away crowd and it was on. Baldwin got to work and kicked a classic opportunist goal and almost a long shot from the boundary. Our pressure was outstanding, and we were ruthless at the contest. The break had us 21 points ahead.
We knew the breeze was a factor and headed into the second keen to build on our momentum and hold our opponents out. The opening minutes of the quarter we controlled their attacks with our back 6 through Best and Stepic controlling entries , but after a running goal the momentum shifted. Our forward entries dried up and those that got through weren’t as sharp as in the opener. The margin at the main break a deficit of 2 points.
With the aid of the breeze only available to us for one more quarter we set ourselves to control the ball and build the scoreboard. There are moments in games when players do incredible things, El Murada and Ryan Lymn both bleed red and black , but their individual efforts lifted not just the crowd but the whole side and when Tommy Mac nailed a vintage check side goal from the pocket the energy levels lifted. The quarter yielded 4 goals, but our opponents managed the first goal against the breeze to set the margin at just 17 points in our favour.
A robust discussion between all players from both sides on the siren signalled not just the feeling in the game but everyone could sense just how much was riding on the game and the final quarter. Our challenge at the break was to remain focused and to again stick with the plan that we had trusted all season, irrespective of conditions, venue and opponent. Win the quarter win the game was the message.
The final quarter felt and was played like the first , the energy, the pressure, the run, contest to contest with both sides clearly not prepared to leave anything out there. And the crowd continued to inject themselves throughout the remainder of the game.
We were not done, you could sense it and then everyone could see it, with only one goal having been scored to the Northern end for the game we defied the odds and went on to kick 4 goals each of which were team lifting which at one stage after a Jett Boxer powerful goal had the margin out to a game high 34 point lead. A late flurry by our opponents cutting the final winning margin back to 21 points on the final siren.
A win on the road in a knockout Semi Final has now created yet another opportunity for us, a preliminary final appearance this coming Saturday.
We again will reflect, learn and look to go again.
Final Score: ROCFC 11.9.75 defeated SPOC 7.12.54
Goal kickers : T. McCormack 3, F. Wakelin 3, J. Boxer 1, S. Lanzoni 1, J. Warton 1, B. Baldwin 1, E. Murada 1
Best Players : R. Lymn, F. Wakelin, J. Butterworth, E. Murada, D. Stepic
See you at the footy.
Damian Boots
A Grade & Club Coach
D Grade Match Report: 1st Semi Final 2025 v SHOC
Rocs on the road for a Semi Final clash taking on eternal rivals SHOC in an early morning match up at Walkerville Oval.
An excited Rocs Academy were soon in trouble early in the first qtr as SHOC were relentless in their attack on the ball & player taking complete control of general play and punishing Rocs on the scoreboard. Rocs tried their best but were brushed aside time and time again as we were chasing jumpers and could not produce any fluent passages of play. SHOC continuing their dominance until a late charge from the Red & Blacks negated their dominance but could not find a way forward to score. Finally Rocs linked up with some effect to score a solitary point just before the siren to end a disastrous first term.
1/4 time score Rocs 0-1 vs SHOC 4-1.
The second stanza proved a tough struggle with both sides having passages of fluent ball movement as congestion around the contest combined with total pressure of a do or die final made it very hard to create fluent translation of the footy. SHOC continuing with scoreboard dominance, but Rocs restricted the damage to an extra 2pts.
1/2 time score Rocs 2-1 vs SHOC 6-3.
Rocs regrouped during the break & challenged SHOC many times during the 3rd qtr but could not break away to construct any consistent scoring opportunities resulting in even scoring again.
3/4 time score Rocs 5-2 vs SHOC 9-4.
The final term started with Rocs controlling the play and finally working together to create back to back scores Rocs made a blazing late charge to steal the win and created enough momentum during the dying stages to create a shot on goal that just missed, the contest now frantic with just 1pt the difference SHOC surged forward to score the sealer & win a brutal bruising encounter.
Final Score Rocs Academy 9.5.59 defeated by SHOC 10.6.66
Goalkickers- S. Marotti -3, L. Tripodi -3, H. Brasher -2, M. Nitschke -1.
Best players- L. Tripodi, S. DuBois, J. Draper, D. Leggett, F. Shanahan, M. Nitschke.
Best team men- B. Warren, H. Brasher, T. Grant, S.Marotti.
Steve Edwards
D Grade Coach
