Rupertswood looking to put tough start behind it in RDFL

RUPERTSWOOD  is “pretty confident” it can turn around a horrid start to the Riddell District Football League season.

Aaron Smith gets a handball clear for Rupertswood earlier this season. Picture: Aaron Cook

RUPERTSWOOD  is “pretty confident” it can turn around a horrid start to the Riddell District Football League season.

The side has been the big slider of the 2016 campaign, having won only three of its opening seven matches after finishing third on the ladder last season with a 13-3 record.

Rupo has proven its capabilities, a 25-point triumph over Riddell in Round 4 showing its best is good enough to beat the competition’s cream.

But first-year coach Kevin Fitzgerald said his playing squad had simply not brought the same intensity and effort most other weeks.

“We’ve shown glimpses and done things well for a quarter, but the only game we’ve really played not quite four quarters but almost a full game was against Riddell,” he said.

“It shows you’re capable, but that doesn’t get you into finals.

“We’re pretty confident that we can (turn it around). We think we’re better than our results show but I suppose every other side in our situation thinks the same. It’s up to us now to stop talking about it and start putting it out on the park.”

Two of Rupertswood’s losses have been by single-figure margins — against Macedon (eight points) and Sunbury Kangaroos (one point). But one of Rupo’s wins could have also easily gone the other way as they toppled reigning premier Romsey by four points in Round 6.

“The group’s trying hard and working hard, we’ve just got a lot of things that we’ve got to work on,” Fitzgerald said.

The coach highlighted midfielder Brent Swallow, full-back Nash Egan and ruckman Jorden Braddy as Rupo’s best performers over the first seven rounds.

After the competition observed a general bye for Queen’s Birthday at the weekend, Rupertswood will return to the field against sixth-placed Lancefield (3-4) at Lancefield Park on Saturday in a crucial match for both sides’ finals prospects.

“These sort of games where you’re pretty level, they can really affect where you finish up,” Fitzgerald said.