Coaches Report - R13
Rd 13 Vs Port Districts (away).
The inconsistency of our season has seen us struggle to back up the next game after a good performance, the Uni loss following our Henley win is a prime example. Added to the equation was the excellent form Port Districts had been in. Leading up to our game on Saturday Port Districts had won 3 of their last 4 games, including comfortable victories over PNU and Henley, having them eying off a finals berth, being only one win behind us on the ladder. So with this is mind and having to make three forced changes from the Goodwood game, we can be really proud of the way the players went about their business on Saturday to beat Port Districts by 99 points.
The first quarter we were kicking into the strong breeze, but this had little effect on us dominating the midfield or our forwards work rate. We were able to constantly run and carry the ball into the breeze with fast ball movement, allowing our forwards time and space to work in. In a free flowing opening quarter we kicked 5.4 to Port Districts 1.7. The majority of Port Districts points coming from pressured kicks from long range or wide on the boundary.
The second quarter, with the aid of the breeze we continued our midfield dominance but we were much more wasteful with our ball use. Chris Pahl kicked two excellent long goals and Luke Manuel kicked a terrific running goal late in the quarter. But I felt we didn’t reward ourselves on the score board well enough for the amount of ball we were winning. Half time scores: ROCs 8.7 to Port Districts: 2.9.
The third quarter was much like the first where the strong breeze almost forced us to run and carry the ball and be more precise with our disposals. Most pleasingly was how precise we were in front of goal, kicking 6.0 for the quarter. Heath Commane had worked the tricky breeze out by now and couldn’t miss. Port Districts kicked 3.1 for the quarter to have the three quarter time scores: ROCS 14.7 to Port Districts 5.10.
The first three quarters were certainly open and free flowing, but the game opened up even more in the final quarter. The most pleasingly aspect of our game in this final quarter was our ability to convert a high percentage of our inside 50s into scoring shots. However, I felt we could’ve been more ruthless in our defensive action as Port Districts were also hitting the score board for the majority of their inside 50s too. But with our midfield winning the ball at the contest and continuing their hard running right to the final siren we had double the amount of inside 50s for the quarter compared to the opposition. We hammered home 9.4 to 1.4 in the final quarter to finish off the game as we started. Final scores: ROCS 23.11 def Port Districts 6.14.
Without doubt the most important minor round match of the season is this coming Saturday against Salisbury North at home. They comfortably beat us at Salisbury North earlier in the year but are currently placed one game behind us in 6th, but with a marginally superior percentage. So the equation is pretty simple, if we win we will remain in 5th spot after round 14, if we lose Salisbury North will replace us in that 5th spot.
Tom Wigley
A Grade Coach
