By Trevor Jackson
Robe 14.12 (96) d Tantanoola 6.4 (40)
IT was a relatively comfortable road trip for Robe as the Roosters headed down to take on Tantanoola in Round 1 of Mid South East football on Saturday.
Despite the road trip, the Roosters were comfortable victors, as they recorded the biggest winning margin of the opening round.
The Tigers looked up to the task early, with three straight majors in the opening term, but the Roosters put on four, plus a couple of behinds to lead by eight points at the first break.
An even second term followed, with both sides adding one more goal to the board and the Roosters three more behinds to keep the margin on the increase.
While the third term saw Robe extend its lead even further, it was the final stanza which did all the damage on the scoreboard.
Tantanoola was kept to just two behinds, while the Roosters put on another six majors and a handful of minors to run out 56-point victors.
Five of those 14 goals came from the boot of Jed Jarret, with coach Nathan Brown contributing three, plus Henry Lawrie and Hamish Smith two apiece.
Braydn Reilly was the only multiple goal kicker for the Tigers, with two majors.
For Brown it was the ideal start to the season, with the side improving after each break.
“We had a bit of a slow start and then the last quarter-and-a-half was really good,” he said.
“Our defensive pressure and behind the ball allowed us to have plenty of intercepts.
“It was just our skills off those intercepts which let us down.
“We turned the ball over too easy, but once we tidied that after half time we got some clean ball movement and good entries into our forwards, which really helped.”
Despite those “rusty” moments early in the game, Brown was pleased to see the continued improvement.
“As the game went on we got better and started playing the style of football we want to play,” he said.
“The last quarter we put on six goals and that was through good skills, good decision making and good forward entry.
“It was very pleasing to see and hopefully we can keep that going.”
Jarrett’s efforts were not lost on the coach either.
“He just does a mountain of work,” Brown said.
“He works hard up the ground and is looking really fit.”
Likewise Zac Deane, named best on ground for the Roosters, also received praise for his work across centre-half-back.
“His intercept work was phenomenal,” Brown said.
“In the first half he certainly saved a few goals.
“He kept his man quiet and when he did come off his man to impact the contest, he did.
“It was very impressive to see him do that.”
Overall Brown said it was the ideal way to blow a few cobwebs out and kick off the season.
“To have a good win like that is good for the confidence heading into the season,” he said.
“Hopefully we can build on that now.”
