The monkey is off the back … Woodend-Hesket has scored its first win of the Riddell District Football League season.
The Hawks found themselves in a position they hadn’t been in all season, with the game against Rockbank played on their terms.
With a seven-goal lead at half-time, the Hawks knew they needed to keep the pressure on early in the second half to kill off any chance of a Rockbank comeback.
They did just that to win 12.10 (82)-3.12 (30).
Coach Ross Sleight said it was utter relief in the rooms after the game, with all seven of the club’s senior netball and football teams getting wins on Saturday. “It’s the first time at the club, seven wins on the same day,” said Sleight, who is in his first year coaching the side.
“The confidence was down with the netballers, too, so it was good for everyone to get wins.”
He said the senior football side had set itself for this game.
“We were coming off a pretty tough seven weeks,” he said.
“We said things would get a little easier and as long as we played well we knew we would be in with a chance.
“We played as a team, stuck to the game plan and played our football.”
Sleight said seven goals up was an unfamiliar position to be in at half- time. “Rockbank copped a massive spray [from their coach] at half-time, so we expected them to come out firing,” he said.
“The aim in the first five minutes was to kick the first goal and then Rockbank’s heads would drop, and we did exactly that.”
Sleight said it was the first time all year there had been 22 contributors.
“We have being having 10-12 contributors every week … everyone contributed against Rockbank,” he said..
“Max Ambler and Trent Laverie were the two guys who set up the win.
“We put the acid on Max at selection and said it was make or break this week. He dominated in a variety of roles and it was his best game for the season.
“Trent started the season in the forward pocket and after three rounds came to us and asked to be moved to the back pocked to find some form.
“He killed it in the back pocket.”
With a run of matches coming up against sides around them on the ladder, Sleight said this was the real challenge.
“We’re confident there will be more wins,” he said.
“The next four to five weeks will be the toughest, as we are playing teams we think we are on par with and that we can beat.”
