EDFL 2019: Roxburgh Park proving critics wrong in Division 1

Tipped not to win a game in EDFL Division 1 after securing promotion last year, Roxburgh Park continues to improve and appears safe from relegation after another win on Saturday.

Michael Farrelly looks for an option for Roxburgh Park in last year’s grand final. Picture: Hamish Blair

Coach Michael Farrelly has taken aim at Roxburgh Park’s critics after it scored its best win of the season on Saturday to move closer to safety from relegation in EDFL Division 1.

Last year’s Division 2 premier was tipped to struggle in the second tier after earning promotion but has scored three wins in 2019 to leave it two games clear of bottom-ranked Oak Park with five rounds remaining.

The Magpies had a quiet summer, which was expected to leave them vulnerable against better opposition, but Farrelly’s young team has been more competitive in recent weeks.

Roxburgh toppled finals contender Hillside by 32 points at the weekend, piling on five goals to one in the last quarter to cap a memorable victory.

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“My big thing with this playing group that I drive constantly is we were tipped not to win a game,” Farrelly said.

“I’ve got quotes from our own players, quotes from supporters of players who have left the club and players who have left the club. There’s just noise around us saying you won’t win a game.

“It’s kind of a badge of honour to put on your chest and say, ‘we proved you wrong.’

“I think the belief is growing and I think the margins over the last month have been nowhere near the margins from the start of the year.

“They’re really starting to adjust to the pace and the young kids are starting to grow and mature really quickly. I’m really proud of the guys.”

The Magpies held a slender five-point advantage at the final change before finishing with all the momentum to prevail, 11.12 (78) to 6.10 (46), in wet conditions.

Farrelly said the fact his wide took a “massive step back” in the previous week’s loss to Oak Park made “this win even better”.

Jamie Grant, Adrian MacKinnon, John Colaidis and Jay Barbera were Roxburgh Park’s best.

“We just want to get the ball forward and lock it in,” Farrelly said.

“Even against the sides we’ve lost against, we’re getting really good numbers inside 50, which means we’re working really hard behind the ball.

“Days where it’s wet allows that pressure to be applied a little bit more.”

Farrelly, who is in his second season at the helm, has started discussions about next season.

He made it clear the club needed to increase its capacity to attract talent.

Asked if he would continue as coach, Farrelly said: “I think we’re both on common terms with what needs to be done to get to the red tape.

“Not that it’s to do with money or anything like that for myself, it’s just some off-field stuff we need to gear up for.

“I would like to think we’re getting everything we can out of this group at the moment, but we need to be in a position that we can hit the reset button again at the end of each year and really make a bold statement.

“We can’t just keep going down the line of good, old Roxy and trying to live on a piece of string.”

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