by Chris Cavanagh, Sunbury Leader
RUPERTSWOOD coach David Barry says finals are still on the radar this season, despite losing to Melton Centrals on Saturday.
The Riddell District Football League's newest team lost its spot in the top six, falling to the Centrals by six points at McPherson Park, 7.10 (52) to 7.4 (46).
Rupo has seven matches remaining to reignite its season, beginning with a clash against third-ranked Diggers Rest on Saturday.
"We're making it hard for ourselves," Barry said.
"But you can always still make finals. You can always turn it around. If we can get our best 22 on the track I think we can mix it with anyone in the comp."
While a growing injury list again hurt Rupo on Saturday, Barry was not making excuses.
A last-quarter fight-back saw the visitors almost double their score as they opened up a congested and low-scoring game to kick three goals to one to almost snatch the win.
But "dumb football" in the opening half - which yielded only two goals for the visitors - proved costly.
"I asked the boys before the game to make sure we used every inch of the ground," Barry said. "I wanted our pockets and our flanks and our wings right out wide to make sure we kept the game open but they all got sucked to the ball. That's playing right into the hands of the opposition."
Midfielders Thomas West and Mitchell Gaunt were Rupertswood's best.
Last Modified on 25/06/2013 11:46