RDFL 2018: Rupertswood ‘gutted’ by straight-sets finals exit

GUTTED by a straight-sets exit from Riddell District Football League finals, Rupertswood will spend the off-season intent on earning another chance to prove itself on the big stage.

Cam McRorie (centre) was one of only four players to feature in every game for Rupertswood this year. Picture: Hamish Blair

GUTTED by a straight-sets exit from Riddell District Football League finals, Rupertswood will spend the off-season intent on earning another chance to prove itself on the big stage.

The Sharks finished one game clear at the top of the ladder after losing only twice during the home-and-away season against Riddell and Wallan.

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But their campaign came unstuck when it mattered most, crashing out of the premiership race with a 38-point qualifying final defeat to Riddell and 63-point semi-final loss to Macedon.

“We have done our exit meetings with all the players and the response coming back from them is they were pretty gutted with the way it all finished this year,” coach Nick Ash said. “We worked so hard to get into a position to go deep into finals.

“They have definitely got the fire in the belly and it’s good for me to know they are ready to come back and hit pre-season when we start.”

Brent Swallow finished runner-up in the RDFL Bowen Medal count. Picture: Hamish Blair

Ash said the club expected to retain most of its players, pledging to focus on promoting under-19s rather than recruiting heavily to drive another flag tilt.

“We are looking just to keep going and investing in our youth coming through,” he said. “We only brought in two or three players last year and this year we’ve managed to keep them all.”

Rupertswood’s cause was not helped by injuries to key personnel in the second half of the year, with only four players — Todd Podolczak, John Barnard, Dylan Featon and Cameron McRorie — featuring in every game.

“Next year we’ll just be looking to get as many games into these (under-19) players as we can and hopefully we find the right formula,” Ash said.

“If we are good enough to make (finals) then hopefully we can translate that home-and-away season form into finals form.”

Ash conceded the Sharks had “been found wanting” during two heavy finals losses.

“I thought we competed pretty well against Riddell in the first half, injuries cost us in the second half,” he said. “Then Macedon just blew us off the park.”

Podolczak kicked 58 goals to be Rupertswood’s leading forward in 2018, while star midfielder Brent Swallow finished runner-up in the Bowen Medal.

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