Playing at Merrigum Recreation Reserve, the Tigers were confident they could pull out a win, but were perhaps startled by just how much.
“It was a very impressive result for us to win by that much, going into the game I was confident we’d win, but not by that substantial amount,” Rushworth coach Mark Wheatley said.
“It was a really pleasing four- quarter performance from the boys.”
Rushworth got its day under way with a 6.5 effort in the first quarter, while also keying in defensively, holding the hosts to just one behind.
With the Bulldogs unable to score at all throughout the second period, it allowed the Tigers to play to full extent in the lead up to half-time, sending eight straight through the middle sticks.
While the visitors were up by a staggering 92 points at half-time, Wheatley had to remind his unit to stay locked in on the defensive end, fearing a repeat of what lost it the game against Murchison-Toolamba in round six.
“I gave them a bit of a poke at half-time just regarding our numbering off and we were starting to be slack because we were up by so much at half-time,” he said.
“I just sensed a little bit of party time and back slapping going on, so I gave them a little bit of a word to bring them back, because slacking off was the reason we lost to Murch.
“I emphasised that we’ve got to be on the ball defensively the whole game, not just in parts and pieces, particularly when you’re up by that much, you still have to defend well.”
While Rushworth’s defensive might have slipped a tad, allowing Merrigum a goal and behind, the Tigers’ attacking tenacity was too overwhelming to stop, adding another nine maximums to the tally in the third period.
The Bulldogs could only manage one goal and behind down the stretch, while the Tigers, knowing the game was all but won, had their quietest stretch inside-50, slotting 4.4.
The final score was Rushworth 27.17 (179) to Merrigum 2.3 (15).
Wheatley reflected further on his team’s efforts throughout the contest and highlighted some significant contributors in what he described as a whole team effort.
“I am certainly enjoying what I’m seeing from this group currently, and there appears to be a lot of genuine love and care between one and other, and that’s what we wanted all along,” he said.
“You want guys that can play, but it’s almost a secondary component to it, you want strong charactered people that represent the club well and play a good brand of footy.
“Luke Oakley was awesome, Liam Adlington was brilliant with his four goals and playing in the ruck, those two were the standouts.
“The usual suspects in Liam Francis and Ethan Arnold also stood up, but it was an even contribution across the board.
“Winning by committee has always been a philosophy of mine, there’s 18 moving parts on the field, and we don’t want to rely on one or two guys.”
Ultimatley, while Wheatley was satisfied with Rushworth’s performance this season, he emphasised the need to win important games, with a big one looming in round eight against Lancaster.
“We are still 3-3 on the season and had some close match-ups so far, with last week against Murch being one of them, but we have a huge challenge ahead against Lancaster this week, so we’ll need to make a good account of ourselves.”
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