WFL - Ararat Rats' joint coach David Hosking said his team's 69-point loss to Horsham Saints at Coughlin Park on Saturday was a bad case of deja vu.
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"It was just like Minyip/Murtoa the week before - Same weather, same ground conditions, same result for the same reasons," he said.
"I said after the game, you can't fault the effort of our guys I thought they tried their hardest, but when you are slamming 70kg into 90kg all day you know who is going to win."
The Rats went into the match bolstered by the return of centreman Jake Ganley and versatile tall Bernie Peoples, but it was the Saints who got the early jump scoring their first goal of the day in the opening minutes.
The Saints added four more majors to the scoreboard before Ararat broke through late in the term, with Jacob Bates sending the ball long into the forward line where Alan Batchelor and Zach Louder combined to kick-start the Rats' afternoon.
Nick Brain had his hands full restricting Saints' full-forward Gavin Kelm, who scored his third goal of the day midway through the second quarter before the heavens opened.
The heavy rain slowed both sides' scoring, with the greasy conditions resulting in a number of stoppages.
Aaron Searle was in the thick of the action, while Liam Cavanagh also used his size and strength to his advantage.
Despite the home team having the run of play, Batchelor again helped the Rats break through for another goal, this time combining with Jake Williamson just prior to the main break.
Hosking said while he was happy with Ararat's endeavour, it was always going to be hard to recover from the 37-point halftime deficit with an inexperienced lineup.
"We still made bad decisions with the footy at times, but that's what happens when you are under pressure, flustered and a young side," he said.
"The only way to change all of that and improve is to continue to play the young ones and once it is done over and over they will get better - It will take time."
The third quarter saw Nick Maddison once again lead from the front in defence, while midfielders Searle, Ganley and Brendon Lovell offered plenty of support.
Horsham Saints managed seven scoring shots for the term (1.6), however inaccuracy kept their lead to within 50 points by three quarter time.
The Rats were left with just one rotation for the final term, with young forward Jamie Whitehead (concussion) missing the second half of the match following a heavy knock, while Peoples limped from the field late in the third quarter with an injured ankle.
James Laidlaw battled on and ran the match out despite copping a number of high hits.
Three weeks of physical encounters looked to take its toll on the Rats, with the visitors failing to record a goal after halftime which Hosking said was a little disappointing.
“Our problem has been scoring and we’ve been unable to do that in a regular, systematic way,” he said.
“Our forward line, more than any other part of our team, has been juggled around this season.
“The back and midfield have been steady but we have had a cast of thousands go through the forward line and none have really had any continuity. It is the last piece of the puzzle in a way and it was always going to be like that.”
It has been a gruelling month for Ararat, losing a close contest against arch rival Stawell and then handed two comprehensive defeats against finals’ contenders Minyip/Murtoa and the Saints.
Hosking said the playing group is sticking together and hopeful a win is just around the corner.
“It is a fine line, the season started well and we got a couple of wins on the board, but the last few weeks have been tough,” he said.
“If we’d won the games against Stawell and Nhill we still wouldn’t be challenging for the five, but there would be tangible evidence of improvement.
“That is what’s diffi cult at the moment, but we can also look at those results and say, well we’re not too far off.
“I am thinking the only thing that is really helping (the group’s morale) at this stage is that we have United this weekend and the guys will be looking to that with confidence and hopeful of coming away with the win.”