Rupertswood’s RDFL revival gathering momentum

AFTER a slow start to the season, Rupertswood has turned its fortunes around as it storms toward finals in the Riddell District Football League.

Rupertswood’s Liam Berry marks over Sunbury Kangaroos’ Jackson Braddley. Picture: Kylie Else

AFTER a slow start to the season, Rupertswood has turned its fortunes around as it storms toward finals in the Riddell District Football League.

The side appeared on the slide early in its campaign, having won just three of its opening seven fixtures after finishing last year with a 13-3 record.

Sunbury Kangaroos’Tom Borg in action. Picture: Kylie Else

But Rupo has not slipped up since then, going on to win its past five matches to sit three games clear inside the top six with five rounds of the season.

“I think we’ve been building for quite a while, it’s just that nobody’s taken much notice of us which is probably not a bad thing,” Rupertswood coach Kevin Fitzgerald said.

“There’s other side’s that are ahead of us so that’s the nature of the beast.

“We’re so young. We’ve got a long way to go and a lot of work to do, but it’s all positive as far as I’m concerned because there’s a lot of upside in our group.”

Rupertswood’s latest win came over Sunbury Kangaroos on Saturday, 16.6 (102) to 8.10 (58).

The heat was on early at Eric Boardman Reserve but the visitors broke away after an early arm-wrestle.

Rupo kicked seven goals in the opening term to establish a 28-point lead and had control of the contest by halftime, leading by 50 points.

“It was probably an eight-point game,” Fitzgerald said.

“If we had have lost, we would have put ourselves back with Sunbury and Sunbury would have put themselves up with us. So it puts us in a really good position.”

Midfielder Brent Swallow was named Rupertswood’s best for a second straight week while young guns Dylan Podolczak and Dylan Featon — who are both still eligible for under-18s — were impressive through the middle and off half-back respectively.

Todd Podolczak was the best of the forwards with four goals.

Rupo tackles Romsey this weekend before a bye and clashes with Broadford, Macedon and Riddell in the final three rounds.

“We’ve still got four really tough sides coming up before we finish,” Fitzgerald said.

“But that’s fine with us. If we’re going to play finals, you don’t want to play the lower sides and think you’re flying. You want to play the good sides so you know where your deficiencies are.”

Elsewhere, Diggers Rest downed Romsey by 55 points, Wallan thumped Woodend-Hesket by 51 points, Lancefield smashed Rockbank by 148 points, Broadford overcame Riddell by 47 points and Macedon hammered Melton Centrals by 140 points.