Frailties costly as Rams fall

The Rockingham Rams have missed out on a place in the Peel Football League grand final after suffering defeat against Waroona in Sunday’s preliminary final 20.8 (128) to 14.9 (93).

Reigning premiers Waroona, which finished second after the regular season, will face Pinjarra on Sunday to defend their premiership title.

Rams coach Craig Otto said he believed his midfield brigade and forward line was good enough but needed to bolster its defence to mount an assault on next year’s premiership.

Otto said the team would look for someone to fill the key centre half-back position after the Demons thumped the Rams by a combined 82 points in their two finals.

He said it was disappointing to lose to the Demons in both finals games after accounting for the Waroona side in their two regular-season home-and-away games.

“I thought we were right to go (on Sunday), training was good and pre-game was fantastic, so there was nothing to be faulted in the lead-up,” he said.

“To have that result, and to be done and dusted at three-quarter time was out of the ordinary.

“We started well, we matched them for the first 15 minutes and then by quarter time we were a few goals down and it just went on from there.

“Nothing seemed to work, it was a tough day at the office.”

Otto, in his first season as senior coach, said he did not believe his team had fallen short this season, despite making the season decider last year.