By PEPPE CAVALIERI - Division 1 Seniors
A PAIR of nail-biting finishes on Saturday highlighted just how tight the race for the top five will be in season 2017, as early results look set to play a significant part in finals action.
The hard-luck story of the weekend in Division One has to be Altona, with one of the pre-season top-three fancies still to find its way onto the winners’list.
The Vikings fell by three-points to Spotswood on Saturday afternoon, signaling its third loss by less than nine points.
Patience will be at a premium for Altona in the coming weeks after a brutal start, while on the flip-side, the Woodsmen are already sitting 3-0, just percentage behind Werribee Districts atop the table.
It was the Tigers who provided the second heart-stopper of round three, holding off a fast-finishing Hoppers Crossing to win by two points at home.
Leading by 24 points at three-quarter-time, Werribee Districts kicked just one goal in the final term, as the Warriors booted five to fall just short.
Andrew Panayi led the way up forward for the Tigers with three goals, while two goals and a best-on-ground performance by Trent Lee proved beneficial.
Daniel Nielson was the Warriors’best, as Jordan Staley, Ashlin Brown and Matt Young each kicked two goals.
St Albans travelled to Caroline Springs desperately needing a win to stay in touch, and after a hard-fought opening half, burst open the floodgates after half-time to win by 55-points.
Tall targets up forward and swift ball movement out of defence and through the middle of the ground proved a handy arsenal for the Saints, as Leigh Brennan, five goals, Dion Hill, four, and Tim Jenkins, three, all hit the scoreboard.
Marc Dawson and Matt Quigley were both superb for St Albans, while young Lakers players Will Markovski, Max Tessari and Jacob Vella all impressed given their lack of senior experience.
Leading by 17-points at half-time of its round-three clash against Albion, Deer Park kicked 10 goals to three after the main break to claim its second win of the season by 63-points.
It was an important bounce-back victory for the Lions after a loss to Spotswood in Round 2.
James Condos was prolific up forward with seven goals, as Ryan Houlihan had a strong game up front and Tim Quick down back.
Kwame McHarg did not miss a beat, chiming in with four goals.
Pat Savage was the only multiple goal-kicker for the Cats with two, as Kym Taylor, playing coach Chris O’Keefe, and Mitch Wilson all made meaningful contributions.
Sunshine’s woes in front of goal continued at the weekend, but that did little to detract from a powerful 72-point win against Wyndhamvale.
The Kangaroos had 39 scoring shots to 12 on Saturday, and perhaps - if you are looking for negatives to take from the victory - robbed themselves of an even more handsome percentage boost.
Sunshine still does boast the most healthy number of any club so far in Division 1, and sits in third on the table.
Ben Christodoulou was the Kangaroos’best, as Matt and Lachie Hutchesson worked hard, while young Falcon Liam Scarborough was Wyndhamvale’s best.
A number of intriguing encounters will greet round four, none more interesting than the Altona-Werribee Districts and St Albans-Sunshine hit-outs.
The Vikings will slip to an unprecedented 0-4 if they go down to the Tigers, but based on form, it seems an easy pick.
But as well as the Tigers are playing, it is becoming more and more urgent for the Vikings to bank a win.
Saturday’s home clash presents no better chance for them to do so.
St Albans must also be feeling it needs to beat Sunshine on Saturday to continue its climb up the ladder.
The Kangaroos have been playing some good footy in the early stages of 2017. If they can start to convert their chances, they might be just too strong. But expect a fierce contest.
Hoppers Crossing will be keen to get back on winning terms in Round Four, and should not have too many issues beating Caroline Springs, with the same to be said about Deer Park in its match against Wyndhamvale.
Spotswood will not spare too many nostalgic thoughts when it faces one of its favourite sons in Chris O’Keefe and his Albion side on Saturday.
They might well share a friendly beverage post-match, but that will only come after the Woodsmen have finished the job away from home.
By CONNOR PAIN – Division 1 Reserves
Sunshine maintained its place at the top of the ladder with a comfortable 84-point win over Wyndhamvale at the weekend.
The Kangaroos led at each break, but didn’t break the game open until the last quarter, booting eight goals to zero.
Cory Connor kicked five majors, more than the entire Falcons team, in the 16.12. (108) to 3.6. (24) victory which puts Sunshine over 200 percentage points above second placed Altona on the ladder.
The ladder-leaders will travel to St Albans this week, while Wyndhamvale will look to bounce back and earn its first win of the season when they host Deer Park.
Ten goals to one in the second half helped Hoppers Crossing overcome a 29-point half time deficit and run out 12.8. (80) to 8.7. (55) victors against the Werribee Districts.
The Districts were the better side early and held the Warriors to just two goals in the first half, however their defensive pressure couldn’t be sustained as Hoppers took over in the final two quarters.
Hoppers Crossing now sit fifth on the ladder following the 25-point win, and will battle Caroline Springs at home. Werribee will head to Altona to face the Vikings, looking to bring its record to 2-2.
Altona turned a six-point three quarter time deficit into a five-point win thanks to two final term goals, downing Spotswood for its third win of the season.
The Woodsmen lead at the half and third quarter breaks, but couldn’t hold on for its first win of the year.
Despite inaccurate kicking, the Vikings recorded 15 behinds; Altona did enough and now sit second on the ladder.
Spotswood will face fellow winless side Albion.
Deer Park romped to a comprehensive 111-point victory over Albion.
The Cats kept pace in the first term, trailing by just 10-points at the first break, however the Lions took over in the final three terms.
They kicked 17 goals to two, showcasing their offensive firepower. The 20.18. (138) to 4.3. (27) win sees Deer Park sit at 2-1.
Caroline Springs were able to overcome inaccurate kicking to down St. Albans 5.16. (46) to 4.14. (38).
Neither side could take advantage of the other’s lack of goals in a game that could have gone either way.
The eight-point win sees the Lakers sit 3-0.
Last Modified on 24/04/2017 09:44