EDFL Division 1: Roxburgh Park move to 5-1 after win over West Coburg
Roxburgh Park’s 5-1 start to the season is demanding more attention as the Magpies young guns show why the club is proving the doubters wrong.
Essendon
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It’s time opposition clubs sat up and took notice of Roxburgh Park.
Four wins on the trot have the Magpies third on the EDFL Division 1 ladder sitting behind only premiership fancy Tullamarine on percentage.
Their latest win, a 14.9 (93) to 11.15 (81) win over West Coburg capped off by a Tylar Sorrentino goal after the siren, was arguably the most impressive.
On its current run, Roxburgh Park has accounted for Craigieburn and Westmeadows for the first time.
The only blemish of the season came in a seven-point loss to Rupertswood in round 2.
Now coach Michael Farrelly believes his side are starting to win over the doubters in his fourth season in charge.
“Internally the conversation has been about when we are going to be respected,” he said.
“Before we had been seen as a team who was making up the numbers. We felt like we were ready to make a statement to the rest of the competition and we’re playing some terrific footy at the moment.”
Just how far the Magpies have come was evident in the game’s final quarter.
Trailing by 15 points at the final change, Farrelly challenged his players to dig deep and find whatever they had left in the tank.
They went onto deliver 6.2 to 1.5 in the final 30 minutes.
“Twelve to 18 months ago we probably would have been blown away,” he said.
“I challenged the boys character, we weren’t happy with what we produced in the last quarter.
“It showed the growth these boys have shown and I couldn’t be happier with how they responded.”
Young gun Luke Reichelt capped off a tremendous month with a best afield performance which included four goals.
Farrelly described the former Craigieburn junior as an “absolute star”.
“He’s become really wise with his ball use,” he said.
“Luke is a classic left footer where you know he’s going to use the ball well when he gets it in his hands.”
Luke Capuano, Eyad Hegazy, Tom Baker, Ryan Micallef and Jack Elliott were also impressive for the Magpies.
Farrelly credited his side’s continued improvement to an entire group effort.
“Our leaders are playing good footy but I think those are them are stepping up too,” he said.
“Jake Talintyre is just one guy who is having a massive years — he’s providing us with a high disposal count but then backing it up with a high tackle count as well.”
Farrelly and the Magpies will tackle their biggest test of the season next weekend against Airport West, the only unbeaten side in the division.
“It’s a chance for us to show what we’re about,” he said.
“Airport West deserve to be top and we will measure ourselves against them. Everyone will tip them to get the job done but we will use that as ammunition for our boys”.
West Coburg will look to bounce back against the winless Sunbury Kangaroos.
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