R15 Coaches Reports
R15 - A's B's & C's vs PNWD, R16 D's vs Modbury and LOSA Prelim Final Win
A Grade Report – R15
The A Grade faced Payneham NU away in what was now our most important game for the year, as both teams were fighting for both a finals berth and keeping away from relegation. We had beaten them at home in the previous round. As P.N.U. had beaten the top side Port Districts in the last round and we had played poorly, this was a danger game and one we had to win. We had a couple good ins with Murphy from injury and Cini who has been playing very well in the B Grade and would give us some extra height and balance to our side. Luke Manual was out due to soreness after his first game back and needed an extra week to get him right after a long layoff. Brad Lymn was omitted for Cini, and Daniel Carbone succumbed to a season ending knee injury. To make this day even a bit more special was the fact that our little champion Tim Baccanello was playing his 150th game for the club.
The first quarter started the way we had trained and planned for during the week with our best start for the year. In the first ten minutes we were dominating all over the ground with two goals to Murphy, Swanny and a goal to Lewie setting up the game before PNU replied. The backline was operating very well repelling PNU time and time again. We switched Lewie back to the backline early in this quarter to give us some extra height and intercept marking ability, as PNU had three talls in the forward line for us to contend with. Another late goal after the siren by Murphy finished off a fantastic first quarter.
Scores ROCS – 6.0 PNU – 1.2
The second quarter PNU kicked the first goal and from that point on it was a battle of the defences, with great pressure from both sides. We were able to hold them off and keep them to a low score going with the breeze. The whole backline did a fantastic job without any passengers.
Scores ROCS – 7.1 PNU – 2.6
The third quarter was a great team effort and if we had converted a little better from all our forward movement, we would have been further in front. Our forward line was looking very dangerous through Murphy and our attacking quick movement all day was causing PNU some headaches through Warton, Ryan Lymn, Dawson, Mead and Baccanello. Butterworth was again fantastic in ruck with his second and third efforts were extraordinary for a big man. We also did not have a bench for rotations after half time which meant we had to slow the game down to conserve energy for the last quarter as we knew they would throw everything at us.
Scores ROCS – 11.6 PNU – 4.7
The fourth quarter was a tight struggle with us controlling the play for the quarter with the whole team committing to a defensive game. Overall, it was a fantastic effort by the whole team playing their role with many good players all over the ground.
Final Scores ROCS – 11.9 Tea Tree Gully– 5.9
Best Players – Ryan Lymn, Will Mead, James Warton, James Butterworth, Tim Baccanello, Nick Murphy Best Team Man – Daniel McCallum
Goal Scorers –Murphy 6, Swanbury 2, Warton 1, McCormack 1, McCullum 1
Our next game is home against St Ignatius and as they caused an upset win against St Peters, it is a must win game for us in the context of the season. We are looking forward to our next challenge and your continued support in this coming game. See you all at the Quarry.
Ben Watkins
A Grade Coach
B Grade Result – Round 15
Final Scores: ROCs 9.7 (61) def by Payneham Norwood Union 12.6 (78)
Best Players: Dylan Fitzsimons, Elliott Shirley, Stuart Greenslade, Sam Warren & Tom Bradford
Dave Moyle
B Grade Coach
C Grade Report – R15
The C grade came into the game needing a big win to help its chances of making finals however came agonizingly short losing to Payneham in the last minutes of the game going down 10.7 67 to 9.9 63.
The team started off strongly with the wind to open a 3-goal lead at quarter time. This was evaporated and we went into half time down by a point.
Again, with the wind in the third the team opened a 3-goal buffer going into the last but unfortunately wasn’t enough to stop a fast-finishing Payneham side. Despite the loss the team gave it everything they had, and you could not fault the boys for their effort and determination. Gabe Burden was the best player on the day also kicking his first goal for the club. Wherever we put him on the field he was dominating the play. Lewis Matsis was the second best kicking two goals and dominating early in his first game back from injury. Justin McInerney was again in the best and was strong in the ruck and around the ground. Amer Elhosni continued to provide plenty spark in the middle and help the ball rolling forward all day. Adam Whitehead was our 5th best player being a strong target up forward that always created a contest for the boys to crumb off.
Best: Gabriel Burden, Lewis Matsis, Justin McInerney, Amer Elhosni & Adam Whitehead.
Goal Scorers: Lewis Matsis 2, Josh O’Leary 2, Jordan Huppatz 1, Gabe Burden 1, Vince Clemente 1,
Regards
Tony Franzon
C Grade Coach
D Grade Report – R16
Backs to the wall again this week as Rocs Academy hosted Modbury Hawks on a cold winter's day. Rocs could only muster 17 players & luckily added Jazzbo Varley & Lawson Nitschke (playing 2 games on the day) to start with 19 men & kicked with a 3-goal zephyr to the Hallett Cove end of Roc Park. Rocs started with plenty of run & quick disposal forward & had the opportunity to boot clear of the Hawks but despite our best-efforts Rocs wasted all our chances to goal, even with unselfish play Rocs Academy could not buy a goal & despite dominating all over the ground went to the first break leading by 12pts. 1/4-time scores Rocs 1-7 vs Modbury 0-1.
As expected, the Hawks used the wind with great precision & capitalised on any chance to goal with ease as the Rocs tried valiantly to keep attacking but couldn't find any direct avenue to goal in an evenly contested qtr. 1/2-time scores Rocs Academy 1-10 vs Modbury 6-2.
Rocs totally out of the game on the scoreboard never gave up & finally had reward for effort as Rocs kept a surging Modbury at bay, booting 6-5 to 2-6 in the second half to snatch an unbelievable win by the barest of margins. Rocs held on to a small lead in a frantic final few minutes with desperate acts helping us to an upset win by 1pt.
Final score Rocs 7-15 def Modbury 8-8.
Goalkickers - J. Abfalter -3, S. Marotti -3, A Condo -1.
Best players - S. Bridge, J. Piantadosi, D. Huppatz, M. Augustine, J. Abfalter.
Best Team man - S. Marotti.
Great games by Alex Partington, Andy Condo, Mark Dzido, Jack Munchenburg & Rocs stalwart Simon Emanuele who consistently helped the team throughout the match.
Regards
Steve Edwards
Academy Coach
LOSA - Preliminary Final vs Modbury
Huge congratulations to LOSA
Winning the Preliminary Final vs Modbury and into the Grand Final next week vs Edwardstown.
Results Preliminary Final
LOSA 03 07 (25) defeated Modbury 02 08 (20)
Goal Scorers: Georgia Saggese 2, Annie Green 1
Best Players: Annie Green, Madison Blacker, Olivia Law, Poppy Scaife, Donella Coro
