By KEVIN HILLIER - Division 1 Seniors
TWO of the biggest upsets of the year occurred on Saturday and what a shot in the arm it is for the Division one competition.
Pre-season social media was frothing at the mouth with Nostradamus like predictions of landslide victories, uncompetitive games and general doom and gloom that there was only one team that could possibly win the flag.
Some fools suggested forfeiting games against the reigning three time premiers because they would be unbeatable, especially with their new high profile ex-AFL recruits.
Here we are at the end of round six, and Deer Park has been beaten twice by Albion and Altona. Not in your wildest dreams could you have imagined that.
If the Lions are to create league history it looks like they are going to really earn it, and that is good for everyone.
Wyndhamvale made the leap from Division 2 and really did not go out and recruit a mass of new players, in fact the opposite. They lost a stack of players and have cherry picked a few classy recruits who have made a difference.
On Saturday they won their first Division 1 game beating Spotswood, a perennial finalist, and not at their home ground, they did it at McLean Reserve, home of the Woodsmen.
The jump between divisions is enormous, and in most cases one win does not make a winter, but here it just might. What a platform for Troy Beamond to build confidence and success in the Falcons, and to signal to the football community that Wyndhamvale is a club on the way up.
That win might be the best recruiting tool ever.
Hoppers Crossing sit on top of the ladder after a hard fought win over Sunshine. The four points was good, but even better was the news that Wayde Skipper returned and got through the game.
The reigning Barry Priest Medallist is a vital cog in the Warriors tilt at a serious finals campaign.
Sunshine look like a team with plenty to offer and will only get better as the season progresses.
St. Albans recorded another win and keep their season alive after a pretty ordinary start.
Last weekend showed that we do have a genuine race for the flag, while Deer Park might still be favourites, they are no longer the chosen one.
They have been the hunted for several years now, the big difference this year is that the hunters have come prepared and have the ammunition to actually knock them over.
After this weekend’s bye, it is definitely- GAME ON.
Last Modified on 17/05/2016 09:09