Morphettville Park Football Club coach Steve Nolis says the Roos can get better in 2021

It’s been one of the most improved clubs in the Adelaide Footy League this season but – ahead of a huge clash this Saturday – Morphettville Park is still on the up.

Morphettville Park coach Steve Nolis says his side’s best is yet to come as it gears up for a crucial Adelaide Footy League clash this Saturday.

The Roos have been one of the most improved clubs in the competition this season on the back of Nolis’ appointment and some strong recruiting.

A 4-2 win-loss record – coming off five wins last season – has them sitting third on the division four ladder.

And with a $3.7m clubroom redevelopment completed last year, things are looking up at Kellett Reserve.

On Saturday, the Roos will face their biggest test yet when they come up against undefeated reigning premier Walkerville.

Ex-North Adelaide player Chris Barns booted five goals for Morphettville Park in round five. Picture: Sarah Reed

Former Geelong small forward Cory Gregson joined the Roos for this campaign from Glenelg. Picture: Michael Klein

Nolis, who took over as coach from former Crows captain Tony McGuinness, said a spate of injuries had restricted Morphettville Park from reaching its peak.

“We’re going really well but we’ve had a ridiculous amount of injuries to key players,” Nolis said.

“We’ve averaged six to seven changes every week and haven’t been able to get the list to play together at once.

“So the inconsistent performance sometimes comes when you’re bringing in seven players each week and you’re trying to change the gameplan to suit the talent pool.

“We have got depth, which we haven’t had for a long time.

“Our best is yet to come and you’ll probably see that in the back nine games of the year.”

The Roos added ex-Geelong and Glenelg small forward Cory Gregson and North Adelaide’s Chris Barns in the off-season and got off to a flying start.

They smashed Woodville South by 115 points in round one and beat 2020 grand finalists Hope Valley by four goals two weeks later.

“Round one we had pretty much a full-strength side but have progressively lost players,” Nolis said.

“Against Hope Valley we ended up with three guys in hospital with a broken leg, broken arm and broken sternum.

Byron Murphy is one of several Morphettville Park players who has battled injury this season. Picture: Calum Robertson

“Then (Matt) Duldig got injured, Gregson is injured at the moment, (Byron) Murphy’s been injured and our best and fairest winner has a broken collarbone.”

Last Friday, the Roos showed they could take it up to the division’s best when they pushed second-placed Pembroke Old Scholars all the way.

The game finished in an 11-point win to the Kings though Nolis said it could have gone either way, with Morphy Park leading by two points at three-quarter time.

Now the Roos will be hoping to better last year’s fifth-placed finish and elimination final exit.

But, in a tight division where four sides are just a game behind them with 3-3 records, they will need to be on their game each week.