EFL 2019: Ringwood makes it three consecutive wins in the Eastern Football League

Ringwood has overcome a 0-2 start to the season to record three wins on the spin and move inside the Division 2 top four for the first time this year.

Declan Hill in full flight. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Ringwood has moved to where most expected they would be at the start of the year — in the top four.

The Redbacks are quickly climbing the Division 2 ladder after recovering from a 0-2 start to the season.

Ringwood has three wins on the spin — the latest a 49-point win over Heathmont on Saturday.

The Redbacks put the game to bed in the first quarter, kicking six goals to one in the first quarter on their way to a 15.5 (95) to 6.10 (46) victory and improving their season record to 3-2-1.

Ringwood went through last season undefeated until an upset grand final defeat but has steadied the ship after a difficult opening to the 2019 campaign.

Ringwood coach Brett Rowe. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“On the weekend, as I said to the group after the game, that’s probably the best team performance I’ve seen in my time, and that’s including last year,” Ringwood coach Brett Rowe said.

“It was just a really disciplined and team effort with our pressure … on the weekend it was the highest quality from my perspective.”

Declan Hill set the tone with three goals in the first quarter on his way to four for the match, while Brandon Stelfox and Steven Brown were influential through the midfield and Scott Laing controlled the backline.

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“We really focused on making sure that we were really putting Heathmont under pressure, trying to get back to what we were known for last year and that constant pressure for four quarters,” Rowe said.

“We were able to maintain and force Heathmont into no time or space by getting them to turn the ball over.

“We were able to get the ball moving really quick the way we wanted to and get it into our forwards one-on-one.”

Rowe conceded there were a few concerns after a winless start but maintained faith his group would turn its season around.

“We had five or six new players in that side from last year so it takes a while for things to get going,” he said.

“A lot of those guys are younger as well so just finding their feet at senior footy and I think they’re just starting to believe they can play at that level.

“All the new guys are starting to get along on the footy field in regards to how we play and the confidence has just grown from there.”

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