Melton Centrals drop out of finals contention in RDFL with loss to Rockbank
ANOTHER disappointing loss has seen Melton Centrals shut out of the finals race in the Riddell District Football League as the pointy end of the season nears.
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ANOTHER disappointing loss has seen Melton Centrals shut out of the finals race in the Riddell District Football League as the pointy end of the season nears.
The Centrals fell to Rockbank by 36 points in what was a must-win stand-alone match on Sunday, 15.11 (101) to 10.5 (65).
The defeat leaves the side two games outside of the topsix with just four rounds remaining, coach Brian Wheelahan conceding any slim hope his side had of making the cut had now been lost.
“It’s closed the door on our season now,” he said.
“It’s done and dusted. It’s been a very disappointing season. I think we’re playing well below where we need to.”
The loss came after a slow start for the Centrals, who found themselves trailing by 20 points at the first change after managing just one goal in the opening term.
Melton stayed in the game to sit within 17 points at the final change but dropped away again in the last quarter, managing just one goal as the Rams powered away.
Wheelahan said while his side was without “five or six” senior players, it was far from an excuse as he questioned the “bad habits” of his senior players.
“The fact is you don’t just get handed success,” he said.
“You’ve got to work hard and we’re just not working hard enough throughout the week and that ties in match-day. We just can’t play four quarters at the moment. We’re down in confidence.”
The Centrals have three games left to end their season on a positive note, but the going does not get any easier with a match against reigning premier Riddell this weekend.
“We’ve got Riddell this week and we know how good they are,” Wheelahan said.
“Then we’ve got a bye and hopefully we finish off with a couple of wins.”
Rockbank sits sixth ahead of a clash with third-placed Rupertswood on Saturday.
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