By Ryan Long
Men’s
Overview:
The most dominant Division Two team in the last four years were once again the benchmark side of the home and away season, finishing on top of the ladder to earn themselves another Minor Premiership – unfortunately there was no opportunity for redemption on the biggest stage.
The Redbacks lost just twice this season, both times by less than a kick to the Jets and the Bears.
They’ve made their home at Jubilee Park a nightmare for visiting teams. The Redbacks were undefeated at home with an average winning margin of 37 points.
Their forward line is as dangerous as anyone’s. The Redbacks were the number two ranked attacking side behind South Belgrave, averaging 79 points per game.
As dominant as their forward line structure was, the Redbacks were equally as strong in their back half, becoming the number one ranked defensive side, giving up an average of just 48 points per match. Tim Jones was a welcome addition to the back six, coming across from North Ringwood and finishing in Ringwood’s best four times this season.
The Redbacks have worked hard on a full ground press for a number of years, and it has functioned extremely well for them on their home ground. With a game style revolving around defensive and attacking pressure, Scotty Laing played a pivotal role for Ringwood as the leader of the back six, working well together with others such as Jones and Waack.
Best Win: Round 6: Ringwood 12.13 85 def. The Basin 4.8 32 @Jubilee Park
This was Ringwood at its brutal best. After the Bears won their first five games of the year, many were starting to consider them as the real deal and genuine premiership contenders.
However, in round six they were brought back to earth by a strong attacking Ringwood outfit led by Mitch Farmer and Declan Hill who both finished with three goals each. Jack Blyth continued his early-season form with another superb performance with his hard running and impressive left foot kick. The wingman was yet another one of Ringwood’s most consistent players, finishing with five votes in the league best and fairest and winning the club best and fairest.
With their defensive set-up behind the ball, Ringwood was able to get ahead of the Bears fast and new-look ball movement that had seen them attack in the waves. Tim Jones and Daniel Collier were two important figures, both making Ringwood’s best players for the day.
Ringwood would continue their success following this game, winning another four matches in a row to consolidate their position in the top two.
Worst Loss: Round 13: The Basin 12.8 80 def. Ringwood 11.10 76 @Batterham Reserve
Losing just two games for the year, there aren’t many games to choose here for the Redbacks. But their round 13 loss to the Bears would have been a frustrating one for the minor premiers who led all day before the Basin stormed home in the final quarter, kicking five goals to one to steal a four-point win.
Ringwood led by 23 points at the final change with star forward Trent Farmer having four goals to his name. The Basin’s Nick Hallo and Jayden Gee both were impressive in the middle and were two predominant figures in the Bears late comeback win.
In the context of the season, it didn’t matter too much for the Redbacks who would finish on top of the ladder regardless, a full game and percentage clear of The Basin.
Standout player: Trent Farmer
The return of Trent Farmer went as well as the club could have hoped, kicking 28 goals from ten games, kicking at least two in eight of those matches. Having a target like Farmer as yet another avenue to goal has been a massive positive for the rest of the forward line. By taking away the best opposition defender most times, it’s been able to free up others such as Mitch Brereton and Declan Hill.
Farmer finished with nine votes in the EFNL Division Two best and fairest, coming in equal third along with teammate Mitchell Jackson.
In a side stacked full of talent on all lines, Farmer may be the most notable name. Despite how good he was this year, don’t be surprised to see him to up his game next year to his 2017-2018 form.
Off-season Focus:
It’s hard to pinpoint many flaws of the Redbacks from their 2021 eleven round season, even in their two losses, there wasn’t a major chink in the armour that was exposed.
A main focus for the club is to keep the same group together and keep them hungry and focused for another premiership campaign. Ringwood has chosen to turn down the offer or going up the division, still very much chasing that elusive premiership.
They’ll once again start the year as the overwhelming favourites for the flag. The big test for Ringwood will be how they perform come September if they can get themselves in that position for another year.
Women’s
Overview:
A near-perfect season for Ringwood’s senior women’s side, finishing on top of the ladder undefeated, securing the Minor Premiership. The girls dominated the year, having an average winning margin of 45 points, rarely being challenged on the scoreboard.
Scoring a combined total of 619 points this season, the Redbacks had an overwhelming 233 more points than the second-best attacking side in Kilsyth. Their defence held up just as well, only giving away a combined total of 128 points per season.
Georgia Fairbairn had an impressive year up forward, kicking 19 goals in just the seven games, almost an average of three goals a game. Teammate Olivia Ashcroft wasn’t far behind her, finishing with 16 goals.
With star performances across all lines such as Zoe Cant, Grace Ward, Olivia Ashcroft and Caitlin Tayleur, Ringwood have built a team made for long-term success.
Best Win: Round 7: Ringwood 7.13 55 def. Kilsyth 1.3 9 @Jubilee Park
The Redbacks demolition of Kilsyth at Jubilee Park was one of their standout wins of the year considering the ladder placements of both sides. With Ringwood going through the season undefeated, their biggest competition for the premiership appeared to be Kilsyth who finished second on the ladder, losing just three games across the course of the year, two of them coming against the Redbacks.
Unlike their last encounter, Ringwood was able to completely shut down Kilsyth’s attacking forward pressure, holding them to just one goal for four quarters while their forward line had a day out. Georgia Fairbairn was again another standout, kicking three goals while Zoe Cant kicked two majors of her own on the way to winning the club best and fairest.
Grace Ward who consistently featured in the club’s best players ended with the best on-field honours in the girls’ 46-point win.
Worst Loss: N/A
Standout Player: Zoe Cant
Zoe Cant had a fantastic year for the Redbacks, topping it off with the club’s best and fairest honours. It’s an incredible achievement, an even bigger honour considering the types of names she beat to win the award.
On top of that, Cant polled an impressive 18 votes in the league best and fairest to finish second, just one shy vote of Kilsyth’s Felicity Neligan.
The midfielder was able to push forward and kick eight goals in the ten matches she played in, influencing the results of Ringwood’s matches.
Off-Season Focus:
Just like the senior men’s side, it’s difficult to find many weaknesses in this undefeated dominant football team. If there’s one notable thing to improve on over the off-season, it may be their accuracy in front of goal. Although the Redbacks were never in doubt of losing many of these matches, they still managed to kick more behinds than goals in six of their eleven matches.
They were able to get away with it with their dominance from the middle and a strong defence but Ringwood will need to improve their goal kicking to adapt as opposition teams recruit and improve their own structure.
If the Redbacks can keep that consistent form they had this year, they’ll be a massive chance for a premiership next September.
