Rams ready for ‘hard slog’

Rockingham Rams captain Kade Fissioli believes last year’s grand finalists are gaining momentum at the perfect time of the year.

The Rams battled to a hard-fought 18.12 (120) to 13.11 (89) win over Centrals on Sunday to move into third spot on the Peel Football League ladder, but they still trail early pace-setters Pinjarra and Waroona.

The 25-year-old pointed to Rams’ never-say-die attitude as an attribute which had served them well this year.

“We had to slog it out (against Centrals), we probably weren’t at our best, but we had the class to get over the line,” he said.

“It’s very important to be able to fight out these wins, because as the season goes on, we come up against the better sides leading into finals.

“We’re going to get these types of matches and the ability to slog it out, like we have been, is a good sign for sure.

“We pride ourselves on the hard wins and it’s all very well to belt a side by 100-points, but we set our sights on the hard games and the hard slog.”

Fissioli admitted Rams had slipped up in their two defeats, to the Demons and Tigers, but was confident of a top two finish.

“There’s a real good mix of players at the club, some good young kids running out there and a handful of kids who have played WAFL football and have the ability to lift the whole side,” he said.

“We’re tracking nicely, we’re 4-2 on the win-loss ratio, and there are a couple of games that we dropped that we would’ve liked to have won.

“We’re sitting nicely, and probably haven’t put the very best side out on the park yet, but we’re mighty confident heading into the second half of the year.”

Rams will be aiming for win five of the competition when they host South Mandurah at Anniversary Park on Saturday at 4.30pm.

Pinjarra’s flawless start to the season continued, accounting for Halls Head by 31-points.

The Tigers will play Baldivis, who squeezed out Souths by just five points, at 6pm on Saturday.

Waroona recorded a double scores win at home to Mandurah, and will play host to Halls Head at 2.30pm Sunday.

Mandurah will attempt to get off the mark at the seventh attempt at home to Centrals, also on Sunday, at 2.30pm.