Missing a host of senior players, Romsey suffer tough loss to Wallan
Missing as many as 18 players, Romsey were always up against it against premiership favourite Wallan, but coach Paul Kennedy found positives.
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Romsey’s surprise run to the Gisborne District cricket grand final has had a major impact on the town’s football club.
The football club was missing as many as 18 players for its Riddell District season opener against Wallan on Saturday with the vast majority on an end-of-season cricket trip.
It ensured a dirty day for the Redbacks, forced to forfeit the under-19s and suffering 85- and 101-point losses in the seniors and reserves.
Facing last season’s run-away minor premier, Romsey failed to score a goal in a 13.11 (89) to 0.4 (4) defeat.
However, coach Paul Kennedy was taking several positives from the day.
“It didn’t go quite to plan but they’re a very good side and we were missing nine players from the senior side,” he said.
“It was always going to be difficult but we had good patches, they kicked with the wind in the first quarter and we held them to two goals.
“They kicked with the breeze in the third quarter and held them to one goal but the problem was they kicked all their goals into the wind.
“I was happy with the boys cracked in but we were just under-manned.
“Overall we would have had 18 out, so it was a really tough day.
“We had a couple of guys miss with COVID, a couple of injuries and the rest were on the cricket trip.
“We believe we’ll get back on track around Round 3 or 4 when we get everyone back on the park and we’ve got to try and stay in the mix until then.”
Kane Brinkhuis and Michael Tinkler performed admirably for Romsey, keeping Wallan forwards Corey Grindlay and Matt Perri to three goals apiece.
Skipper Nathan Blair was outstanding in midfield, Corey Pertzel was among the best and top recruit Mitch Caddy impressed on debut.
“I thought Kane was terrific, he tried hard all day,” Kennedy said.
“He had a tough opponent (in Grindlay) and all our backs played well to tell you the truth, Tinkler did a good job on Perri, but it was just the supply that went down there.
“Nathan Blair was really solid in the midfield and Mitch Caddy tried hard in his first game, got a bit of it, and he’ll only get better.”
It doesn’t get any easier for Romsey with a trip to Riddell in Round 2 – the Bombers coming off an upset win over Macedon – before a home clash against Western Rams.
Several players are expected to be unavailable again this weekend due to other commitments.
However, Kennedy hopes to get five players back with more to filter in in the coming fortnight.
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Perri, Grindlay and Jake Layley all booted three goals for Wallan.
Fully fit after a foot injury last season, Jarryd Bonello was named best-on-ground, while Sean Morris, Cody Lynch and reigning Bowen Medallist Ricky Schraven also impressed.
The Magpies travel to Woodend-Hesket in Round 2.
Elsewhere, Riddell surprised Macedon at Tony Clarke Reserve with a four-point win, Melton Centals gave new coach Mark Pedersen a first win, defeating Western Rams by 94 points, while Woodend-Hesket triumphed over Lancefield by 48 points.
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