Club aims for top five ladder spot

Rockingham Rams Football Club is firing up for a big season, with hopes to climb the league ladder and finish in the top five.

The club will kick off the season on home turf this Saturday coming up against Mundijong Centrals at 4.30pm.

Senior coach Craig Otto said he was confident the Rams had the goods to go head-to-head with Mundijong after a high-quality pre season.

“Our best 22 players at the club, that run out in the first game, have done everything right to be selected for our round one clash,” he said.

“We will also rely on some of our very talented colts players which are aligned with the Peel Thunder Colts side, to come back and step up.”

Otto said training ahead of the game was concentrated on football structure set-ups and kicking skills, but a key focus would be player leadership.

“Everyone has a role to play and voice to be heard,” he said.

Otto said although there were no injury concerns at this stage, key player Peter Mcginnisken needed to have an injury free season to keep the Rams in good stead.

He listed key position player Steve Kenny, experienced midfielder Rocky Collins and young guns Andrew Walsh, Tyler Strange and Chris Oliver as essential players to this year’s side.

“We will also be playing anywhere from three to six colts players every week,” he said.

“The idea is to keep blooding young colts for the whole season to gain that senior experience for the club’s future.”

Club president Steven Boyd said on and off the field success were his key motivators for the season.

“On field is obvious, strive to winning a premiership and off the field help to develop and encourage growth within the club culture,” he said.

Boyd said the club was looking forward to the return of Brendan Fevola for the round 3 clash against Baldivis at Anniversary Park on Saturday, April 12.

“As we saw last year, he offers a lot to our club and team with his generosity and kindness to all of his fans, and his football prowess of kicking a bag full of goals,” he said.