Early signs are good for the Sunbury Kangaroos, who made it two from two with a big win over Broadford in the Riddell District Football League on Saturday.
Unsure where they would sit this season, the Kangaroos have started the year with wins over Romsey and Broadford, who were last year’s premiers and preliminary finalists.
At Boardman Reserve on Saturday, the Kangaroos had the answers to all Broadford’s attacks on the way to an 18.13 (121) – 11.12 (78) win.
The Roos made the most of kicking with the wind to open a 32-point lead at the first break.
And Broadford – also known as the Kangaroos – did the same at the start of the second quarter with the first three goals before Sunbury hit back with two of their own.
Broadford played its best football early in the second half and looked set to take control.
But again Sunbury responded with six goals for the quarter to virtually have the game in their keeping.
And when they kicked the first of the last term it was as good as over.
Sunbury coach Jarrod Dixon said he was happy with how his side had started the season.
“They’re starting to gel,” he said. “We’ve brought in new players and it will take time, but you can see they have a strong bond and I’m really happy at the moment.”
Key areas which stood out for Sunbury were their contested football in the attacking half and an ability to regroup each time Broadford looked like getting on top.
“The contested ball is about the responsibility and trust as a team, to know that one player is going to do the tackling and the other player is going to put the pressure on,” Dixon said.
“If the forward line does it, everyone else will follow. It’s natural for the forward line and probably natural for the mids, but if your forward line puts on that sort of pressure you’ll see the results.
“What impressed me was our mindset that we settled down [when Broadford got on a run] and went again. You don’t need a break to reset; you can do it during a game if your players are mature enough. “
The Kangaroos had six players with multiple goals; Ryan Pretty kicked four of them.
Zane Williams was best on ground.
Elsewhere, Riddell smashed Romsey, Diggers Rest made it two from two with a win over Lancefield, and Woodend-Hesket and Wallan opened their accounts with wins over Rockbank and Melton Centrals respectively.
Macedon came from behind on Monday to defeat Rupertswood.
