WESTERN Region Football League tipsters would have registered another perfect score this week with all the favourites saluting in typical fashion in round 16 on Saturday.
The only real upset was the top five clash between Spotswood and Albion – the higher placed Woodsmen got home as expected but the 81-point margin shocked a few.
The Woodsmen were too strong on their home deck at Mclean Reserve, overcoming an early deficit to register an 18.19.127 to 6.10.46 victory against an Albion side hit hard by injuries throughout the match.
The Cats are no slouches and travelled to the Woodsmen’s turf full of confidence.
They booted four goals to three in the opening term but after surrendering the early lead they managed just two majors for the second and third terms as the Woodsmen went on a rampage with a six and five respectively.
By the final change the margin was a commanding 51 points and the Cats were gone for all money but with second place already wrapped up Spotswood playing coach Ben Kelly reinforced to his charges that they need to keep consistent form on the run home.
“A couple of other games during the year we have won but haven’t won well,” he said. “We just let sides get back into it. So it was pretty important we didn’t let Albion back in the game at all.”
The Woodsmen responded, showing no mercy with six goals to none in the final term to really punish the Cats.
Albion playing coach Paul Harrison acknowledged the injuries his side suffered throughout but said the opposition was too strong. “They were way too good in the end,” he said. “We didn’t have a bench which is no excuse. We shouldn’t have got beat the way we did.”
The win keeps Spotswood a game behind the Colts in second place but keeps the race for third place and the double finals chance interesting with Sunshine, Hoppers Crossing and the Cats all on equal points.
But Harrison had virtually relinquished third spot.
“It’s back to the drawing board, at least now we know we can’t get third spot so we’ll be playing in the finals from fourth or fifth. Still, we are pretty confident we can have an impact in the finals but there is no doubt Spotswood and Port Colts are the two sides to beat. But again we don’t think we are that far behind them … hopefully if we get another crack at them we’ll be better prepared.”
The Woodsmen are in a desirable position with just two rounds to go and the likes of Wayne Patak, David Isbister, Simon Pocervina and Matthew Montebello still to come back into the side. “It’s a good competitive situation we have got going on within the group which is the way you want it,” Kelly said.
In other Division One results, Altona fended off a spirited West Footscray side, Port Melbourne proved too strong for St Albans, Hoppers Crossing thumped Glen Orden and Sunshine sent a message to Sunshine Heights in a 193-point thumping.
In Division Two, North Footscray dominated North Sunshine, Laverton Magpies knocked off Wyndhamvale, Deer Park was too good for Coburg Districts, Parkside beat Albanvale, and Yarraville-Seddon got home but two goals against Braybrook.
