Improved Roosstrive for consistency

KANGAROO Flat coach Tyrone Downie says his side can take positives out of parts of their performance early this season, but the challenge remains to produce a full four-quarter effort.

Winless since round 11 of the 2024 season, the Roos get their chance to break the drought this Saturday against Broadford at Dower Park.

New to the competition this season, bottom-placed Broadford will enter the clash similarly placed at 3-0, albeit with the pair separated by what is a whopping 31 per cent in percentage.

Kangaroo Flat is coming off a gallant 39-point loss before the bye to reigning premier Eaglehawk, in which a 20-minute period either side of the three-quarter-time break proved detrimental.

Having hit the lead in the third quarter, the Roos surrendered the next eight goals as the Hawks ran out comfortable winners.

It was a disappointing ending for the Roos, but characteristic of their season so far where bright patches have been undone by lapses in concentration and form.

Optimistic things are tracking the right way, Downie declared the performance the Roos’ best effort to date this season.

“We were probably really disappointed with our first week against Gisborne; it was plain and simple, Gisborne were too good,” he said.

“We had a crack and kept up with them in the first quarter.

“Castlemaine was an interesting game; we really controlled much of the game and led most of the key indicators, apart from the one that actually matters, which is the scoreboard.

“They ended up giving us a fair touch up, which was disappointing given the way the game was being played.

“I was frustrated by that one.

“But definitely the Eaglehawk one was a much better all-round performance. It was probably just limited to 30 minutes of footy that was below par.

 

 

“It was disappointing to let the game get away from us and not fight it out, but Eaglehawk still have some quality players and that ended up being the difference.”

While he is confident the Roos have improved a lot since last season, circumstances beyond their control meant progress was not always visible, according to Downie.

“We’ve been smacked by injury … same as every team. And we’re probably lacking the depth of key personnel,” he said.

“That’s a bit frustrating.

“But I also think the competition is better.

“That has somewhat limited the inroads we were hoping to make into the rest of the pack.

“We hope to get a few (players) back soon.”

Jeremy Rodi, key tall Jordan Rouse and tall midfielder Flynn Clark are among those in line for a return from injury against Broadford, with Zac Rouse and Harry Jackman both set to miss with shoulder injuries sustained against the Hawks.

Obvious standouts on the playing front have included Daniel Stagg in defence and Rouse, up until his injury.

Angus MacPherson backed up an outstanding game against Castlemaine with a serviceable effort against the Hawks, while Nick Keogh (three goals v the Hawks) up forward, Mitch Collins and Kyle Symons have performed steadily.

In a sign expectations had lifted around Dower Park, Downie said the Roos were ‘probably disappointed overall’ with their start to the season.

“From a group perspective, we definitely want to win (against Broadford) and a win will help us, but it’s not the end of the world,” he said.

“It’s about playing consistent good football, which is what we took out of our last game, being able to do it for near enough three quarters.

“A win will help, but does it come off us playing three quarters of football, or does it come off four good quarters.

“That will still be the driver for improvement.”

The Roos’ last win came against Maryborough on 29 June 2024, by 78 points and was the third of three wins that season.

They beat Maryborough twice and South Bendigo once.