Coaches Report - R6
A's home by 11 goals over PAOC - C's now uploaded
A Grade Report - R6
We played some exciting football to record a pleasing win against an undermanned PAOC team on Saturday. We started positively, kicking 6.7 to 2.1 and blew the game away with an 8 goal third term. Our sense of teamwork, running power and energy when they had the ball were excellent and our clearance work was stunning.
Drew kicked 9, Matthew Dawes, Jack Nelligan, Craig Holm, Ben Moyle, Luke Manuel, Will O'Malley and Peter Baccanello were outstanding whilst Rohan Watson and Sam Bridge dominated in ruck.
A very positive response to our loss last week. This week sees us play Uni at home in another big game and big social day for the club.
Tim Hart
A Grade Coach
B Grade Report - R6
We took on PAOC a little undermanned this week having 6 forced changes and we also had to cover 2 significant injuries during the game that contributed to a 31 point loss. It was a disappointing result as it was a game we thought we could win. We were competitive in the first half however our skill level was poor at times and we turned the ball over too many times. Our side had 9 players under 21 years of age and as a result a lack of leadership and maturity causes some inconsistency in effort. Our third quarter was poor and PAOC took advantage to set up a match winning lead. Fortunately we showed some courage and pride and outscored PAOC in the final term.
Our inability to put four solid quarters together is frustrating but we are committed as a group to work towards improvement.
John Harrison has found some good form since going to centre-half back and was our best player this week. Tim Felice, coming up from the C Grade, played well in the backline and created to run and options out of defense was our second best player. Steve McKenna, also up from the C Grade this week, had an exceptional first quarter kicking two goals and was a solid from his wing. Our captain John Trenorden was very good in the centre until he was injured in the third quarter with an ankle and knee injury. Fifth best was Dan Gilbert who always gives an honest effort and tried hard all day from his wing.
The match against University this week is going to be a tough challenge, and hopefully we can regain some of our more experienced players to put up a solid effort.
Glen Malkin
B Grade Coach
C Grade Report
Some omens are good, others??
When the outer planets in the solar system aligned early Friday morning it must have cast a dark cloud over ROC Park. What was to be a top of the table blockbuster soon turned into a disaster movie for the ROCS C-Grade team.
The game started with PAOC using a game plan with a loose man across half back and many changes in the first half rotating players off the half back line, The ROCS footy team struggled to come to terms with this as many of our attacking moves were easily cut off at repelled with precision team football.
Our backline led by Best On Ground Mr Fabulous Craig Fabbian were able to repel most of the PAOC attacking forays. PAOC did manage to convert and led at half time 5.4 to 0.2. During the second quarter Aamon “Snitzel” Ansell badly rolled his ankle and could take no further part in the game. This was a bad loss as The Snitzel has been in really good touch over the past few weeks and his good form is due to his efforts on the training track.
No sooner had he been hurt another player in great form Hadyn Edwards received a very bad poke in the eye and his damaging play was lost for over two quarters until he recovered enough to cruise around the forward line and become a damaging player kicking one goal.
At the half time break the ROCS knew we were still very much in the game and had played with tough and hard pressure on the ball carrier. After five minutes in the third quarter Hugh “Ratatouille” Ratcliff went down with a major tear to his ankle ligaments and was taken to hospital. As he was being treated on the side lines Mike “Lenny” Moran received a badly broken nose with plenty of claret flowing. As the third term went on the ROCS endeavour was never questioned as the opposition were kept goalless for the first 20 minutes of the quarter despite further soft tissue injuries to Brendon Edson & Simon Emanuele leaving the ROCS with 16 fit players to run out the quarter. The ROCS appetite for the contest and willingness to keep running kept us within touch with the scores 6.6 to 1.3 at the last change.
Players who stood out up until the last quarter were Matt “Zampa” Zamparelli who mixed it with big and small to be one of the best players on the ground. Ruckman Big Pat Murphy spent all day on the ball and refused to come to the bench for a rest. He led his teamates with his football understanding and talk. Vice Captain Vic “Pissa” Pisanello was at his usual best despite being tagged by the opposition. Sean “Baby” Castellano was used on the ball after half time and relished his chance to be around the footy and was another who never gave in. His ferocious tackling is great to watch. Sam “Funky” Millard was moved into defence for this match after spending the early part of the season at Full Forward and rose to the challenge to gain a multitude of possessions across half back, linking up with Mr Fabulous to create many attacking moves.
The last quarter started with ROCS having 17 on the field. But the war of attrition soon affected key defender Alex Kelly with the in form ROCS Centre Half Back going down with a knee injury and being forced from the ground. This allowed the opposition to dominate the half forward line with the weight of numbers making the scoreboard more lopsided. After two minutes Sean “Baby” Castellano broke a bone in his foot and was clearly in a great deal of pain. With 16 players on the field and a forward line crowded with injured players we saw acts of courage from Dan Baille. Already totally exhausted as he was changing on the ball with himself for most of the day still running although he was spent. Tom “Pig” Deegan chasing four loose PAOC players across half back kept running and putting pressure on forcing the ball out of bounds. The Pig couldn't have caught them unless he hailed a taxi but he kept at it which was fantastic to see. Simon “Hambone” Emanuele, our beloved leader, with a torn hamstring “ran” into space to take a good mark and then must have though “Gee what do I do now?” but still kicked it to a target with his injured leg. Great stuff!!! These acts on the field will have to have inspired their teamates and this should remain with us for the season. Another late shoulder injury to Full Back Paul “Old Man” Whitford reduced the ROCS to 12 fit players and during all of our drama the PAOC team ran out comfortable winners 11.8 to 2.6 with the final margin inevitable due to our problems. This game gave valuable game time to several players who needed it with Lee “Gene” Simmons getting in and under on his wing and Tom “Wilderbeast” Wilson getting a harsh baptism at Centre Half Back and then Full Back. Their skills will be in great need in the coming weeks. With a chance to atone this week against Adelaide Uni our depth will be sorely tested once again. Stand by for the return of a couple of old stagers & ROCS legends!
Steve Edwards
C Grade Coach
