By ADEM SARICAOGLU
ROCKBANK coach Leigh Sporle was rapt with his side’s positive response to the previous week’s tribulations on Saturday.
It wasn’t pretty, and only nine goals were scored on the day, but the Rams notched up their fifth win of the year against local Riddell District Football League rival Melton Centrals in trying conditions at Ian Cowie Reserve.
The result came seven days after what was meant to be a big day for the club, which was celebrating NAIDOC Week with a home clash against Rupertswood.
The game was called off after a sickening head clash that knocked out Rockbank’s Chris Jones in the third quarter, with the Rams down by 46 points at the time.
“Obviously we had a pretty bad loss the week before and the game got called off,” Sporle explained.
“It was a big day for the club, so to come back like that against Merton Centrals I thought was a really great effort.”
‘Rabbit’ Jones, described by Sporle as one of Rockbank’s best clubmen, was on hand to watch his team-mates defeat their RDFL neighbours on the weekend, and despite suffering some bruising to his brain, has been given the all clear to return to the field later in the season.
Sporle said Jones’s presence on the sidelines helped spur his team home in a tight and tense affair.
“Rabbit’s probably our hardest trainer, our hardest worker, he gives everything to the club and at every function he’s always there and doing stuff,” Sporle said.
“On Saturday I think maybe that was one of the things that helped us as well. Maybe the boys saw he was there and maybe that inspired them to give that extra effort for their big mate.”
Rockbank’s day wasn’t looking very good prior to half time as Centrals effectively kept them in the game with poor kicking.
At half time the Rams were down by 11 points – but broke away in the third quarter, kicking three unanswered goals before holding on for a stirring eight-point win.
While their chances may be slim, Sporle believes his Rams are still a “sneaky finals chance”, but they can’t afford to drop any of their remaining three games to get there.
“Last week I thought we were a chance to beat Rupo (Rupertswood) and we probably got a bit ahead of ourselves, so it’s the oldest cliche but it is one week at a time,” Sporle said.
“We’ve got to concentrate on each week and just see what happens from there, but if we win each game, you never know.”
