ARARAT coach David Hosking says his side hasn’t given up on its Wimmera Football League season, despite the Rats remaining winless after five rounds.
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The Rats have also endured a horror run with injuries, and that has continued over the past fortnight.
Peter Thompson missed last weekend’s 46-point loss to Horsham Saints due to osteitis pubis, while James Stapleton sat out with an achilles injury.
The week before against Stawell saw James Hosking rupture his anterior cruciate ligament. He will require a knee reconstruction, with a stint on the sidelines lasting up to 12 months.
Another senior player missing is Jacob Bates with a fractured hand.
Ruckman Andrew Pickles was a late omission from the Saints’ match with the flu, although it is expected he will return for this weekend’s clash with Warrack Eagles.
“We’ve been smashed with injuries,” Hosking said this week.
“But we’ve got to remain positive and go into games with positive intent.”
The Rats head into its round six match at Anzac Park confident of securing their first win for 2016.
“I think it is a winnable game,” Hosking said.
So far, Ararat has faced all top-five Wimmera football teams which has made this season challenging for Hosking and his charges.
“We haven’t given up on our year,” the Rats coach said.
“There are 11 games left. We just don’t have any more margin for error.”
Hosking conceded the Rats need to improve on their work through the midfield.
“All the information we’ve got from week to week is telling us we’re not doing as well in the midfield as we should,” he said.
“We’re not generating enough forward entries and we’re conceding too many of them. Also, we turn over the ball too much.
“They’re the areas we need to tidy up.”
It is not all doom and gloom for the Rats though. The growing injury list has given the younger players, such as Liam Arnott, Tom Mills, Aidan Moar, Adam Haslett and Austin Hamilton, the opportunity to step up into the senior side.
“They’re all good young footballers who are learning,” Hosking said.
Another positive for the Rats is forward Gordon Laurie. Laurie proved himself to be a backup ruckman last weekend in the absence of Pickles.
The Rats’ big man earned praise from Hosking, and was named best on field for his effort.
The Rats receive an added boost this weekend, with experienced player Jacob Hamilton making his way back into the senior squad.
