Hayden Barker was the top performer that last time the Rovers went up against Berrigan.
Photo by
Rebecca Flisher
The Rovers face a real measuring stick this week in round six of Picola League senior football action.
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They will host an improved Berrigan Saints side at Deniliquin Memorial Park.
The Rovers have begun the year with wins against Mathoura, Blighty and Jerilderie, and will be looking to bank another early win against Berrigan.
Rovers seniors football coach Alex Hay said the side will be looking to build consistency following two early byes, with the general bye after round 14 the team’s only upcoming break in the season.
“It's been an interesting start to the year, being interrupted with a couple of byes, so we haven't quite been able to get the continuity of games. But we have a relatively healthy list, which is a positive.
“Our work on the track has been at a high level, and it's given us an opportunity to reinforce some key concepts of our game plan, the next component of this is then to execute game day, which we are looking forward to.”
The Saints have had a strong start to the season with wins over Blighty, Tocumwal, Mathoura and Rennie, but a 14-point loss to Jerilderie under lights at Berrigan last weekend.
The Rovers and Berrigan last played at Deniliquin in round 12 last season, a game the Rovers won by 80 points.
In that match, there were several multiple goalkickers with Hayden Barker kicking six goals, Tyson Willis with three while Alex Harvey and Brendan Hope kicking two each.
The match was a big occasion with sponsors day for the Rovers last year, as it will be again this year.
It was also Allan Bond and Brendan Hope’s milestone 300 games in the Picola seniors and for Rovers respectively.
Hay said the club will face a new-look Saints side this weekend, which will present a defensive challenge for his team.
“Berrigan have had a really good off season recruiting wise and look to have maintained a really potent forward line capable of kicking big scores, so our team defence will have to hold really strong if we are going to have a chance this weekend.
“They have also added some real quality through the midfield, which I'm conscious of, so there will be a few jobs to do on our end, and I'm confident that we will rise to the challenge there.
“They've had a couple of really strong wins, so our game will need to be on.”
However, overall, Hay said he wants the Rovers to keep playing as they have been this year, with room for development in their ball movement.
“In terms of how we want to play, nothing will really change in that regard.
“Team defence is always a focus, but our organisation on field is always an area of growth.
Tyson Willis, in action earlier this season, was key in Deni’s last win against Berrigan.
Photo by
Rebecca Flisher
“I suppose with the strength in our forward half, perhaps we would like to move the ball a little quicker through the middle of the ground to give them a chance to go to work, but I suspect that will play out a bit more organically rather than as a coaching focus.”
It will again be a big weekend at Memorial Park this weekend for the Deni Rovers’ Sponsors Day.
Junior games of football begin with the fifths before the fourths are scheduled to start at 9.30am, thirds at 10.40am, reserves at 12.30pm and the seniors from 2pm.
In netball, the under-11s and under-15s play from 9.30am, under-13s and under-17s from 10.40am, C-reserve and B-grade at 12pm and A-grade and C-grade at 1.30pm.
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