By Adrian Ceddia
YARRAVILLE leapfrogged Altona on the Western Region Football League (WRFL) Division One ladder with a final-round upset win over St Albans on Saturday.
The Tigers scored their fourth win of the season in a comfortable fashion, the margin 34 points at Kings Park Reserve.
Both sides were out of finals calculations before the match but Yarraville was keen to finish on a high and lift itself from the bottom of the ladder.
A five-goal bag from Morgan King helped the Tigers set up the win, while Trent Zantuck finished with a solid tally of 53 goals for the season with three on Saturday for St Albans.
After an even first term, Yarraville kicked five goals to two before half-time to lead by 18 points, an advantage it maintained to the final change.
The Saints kicked just two goals in the final term as the margin blew out.
St Albans finished in sixth spot, two games outside the top five after looking a slim chance to sneak into the finals a fortnight ago.
At the top end of the table, Hoppers Crossing earned itself the week off with a hard-fought victory over a persistent Spotswood.
Dale Carson was the difference between the sides with five goals in a best-afield performance, while Adam Simpson kicked the same number as one of the best for the beaten Woodsmen.
The Warriors dominated the first term but were inaccurate, and led by 24 points despite enjoying nine more scoring shots.
Spotswood clawed back for the remainder of the match but could not get close enough to threaten the minor premier, eventually going down by 16 points.
Sunshine locked in third spot and the all-important double chance with an untroubled victory over Albion at J.R. Parsons Reserve.
The Cats ended a disappointing season with just five goals for the afternoon while the Kangaroos enjoyed a perfect finals tune-up with 16 goals to win by 79 points.
Darren Stenhouse booted five majors and Brendan Acreman four for Sunshine, while Jason Butina was the only multiple goalkicker for Albion with two.
The Roos edged out Parkside for third spot despite the Magpies having a final round rest and the free four points with Seddon’s final round forfeit.
Altona’s debut Division One season ended in a heavy loss to reigning premier Port Melbourne Colts by 127 points on the road.
The Jason Clarke and Saul Caddy double act stole the show, with the pair booting seven goals each to steer the Colts into second spot.
Steven McAnulty and Stacy Massis were outstanding for Port, while Altona’s Nicholas Joss bagged four of the Vikings’ eight goals for the afternoon.
The Colts face Sunshine – a team which inflicted one of Port’s three losses this season – in a qualifying final this Saturday at Whitten Oval
The Kangaroos comfortably accounted for the Colts in round eight, but lost their round 17 encounter by 14 points.
Parkside faces Spotswood in the elimination final on Sunday, with the Magpies to go in short-priced favourite after their two victories over the Woodsmen this season.
