Rockbank not getting too down despite rocky start in RDFL

SPIRITS  remain high at Rockbank despite a rocky start to the Riddell District Football League season.

Rockbank’s Aiden O’Neil tries to gather the ball against Wallan on Saturday. Picture: Dennis Manktelow

SPIRITS  remain high at Rockbank despite a rocky start to the Riddell District Football League season.

The Rams always knew the going would be tough this year after losing about a dozen senior players over the off-season but the extent of their defeats have provided cause for concern.

The side has lost its opening four matches by an average of 125 points, including a 160-point thumping by Lancefield in Round 3 last weekend.

But Rockbank coach Gavin Sporle said his players could not be handling the predicament better.

“The young guys have got a long way to go and a lot to learn but they’re there, they’re listening, they’re training and, from that sense, they’re only going to improve,” he said.

“To be honest, the feeling around the club is phenomenal. It’s as good as it’s been in the four years that I’ve been there.

“We’ve been getting over 50 on the track, which I’ve never seen and our under-18s right through to our seniors are buying in to what we want to do and that gives us an opportunity to teach and develop them over the course of the year.”

Rockbank’s Saxon Woodraffe gets caught in a tackle againt Wallan on Saturday. Picture: Dennis Manktelow

Sporle said the focus was never going to be on the scoreboard this year, adding that other objectives, to do with development, were already being achieved.

“When we look at the goals and targets we set at the start of the year, we’re already ticking most of those off now,” he said. “With the amount of player turnover we had and our challenges in getting a side up and running, the expectation was never on the scoreboard.”

The coach singled out fearless captain Tom Mainey as a standout player over the opening month — his leadership in a side lacking experience invaluable.

“He has been around forever and no matter who’s on our list at the football club, he’s in our best three players every time,” Sporle said.

“His leadership, his effort and his commitment to the footy club can just never be questioned.”

Rockbank fell to Wallan 20.12 (132) to 4.4 (28) on Saturday. Elsewhere, Diggers Rest downed Broadford by 11 points and Melton Centrals went down to Sunbury Kangaroos by 124 points.