Wyndham Vale ruckman Daal Mashak gets the jump on Glen Orden’s Jake Ross. 80643 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WYNDHAM Vale rebounded from its disappointing start to the season to claim a big scalp in the previously unbeaten Glen Orden on Saturday.
The Falcons, touted as major contenders for the Western Region Football League Division 2 flag, dropped its first two matches but produced a seven-goal final quarter to overrun the highly fancied Hawks 10.11 (71) to 7.8 (50).
“We were aware that the game would split open at some point,” Falcons coach Luke Dennerley said.
“Glen Orden got a hold of us in that third quarter, but to our guys’ credit our patience was fantastic and their belief in the game style was there and they come home really strong.
“The key for us right across the board was we were prepared to win the contested ball.”
Dennerley said his side’s tackle count almost doubled Glen Orden’s, and he thought Wyndham Vale’s ruck combination of Daal Mashak and Nathan Reschke had the wood over the Hawks’ big men.
Midfielder Tristan Angelini was Glen Orden’s best player but he suffered a torn rotator cuff, which is likely to see him miss at least a month.
Glen Orden coach Nick Diker said his side was bound to drop off after a stunning start to the season that produced three dominant wins.
“Realistically we knew we were coming for a bit of a fall and it’s probably something we needed,” Diker said.
“Not taking anything away from Wyndham Vale whatsoever, they were really good all day. But our mental application wasn’t.
“We had 80 per cent of our players with less than seven or eight possessions. You’re not going to win many games with that happening.”
But Diker had no doubt the Hawks were a top four side.
“We’re the type of team where we could be up and about this week and knock Yarraville over. “
Dennerley said his players did not panic after its first two games, but did realise that they couldn’t coast on their talent.
“I think they thought maybe it was just going to happen and their performance was going to click into gear, on the back of a really good season last year,” Dennerley said. “But football games aren’t won on paper.”
Dennerley did not make sweeping changes to the side after losing to Parkside and Coburg Districts, believing the game plan would succeed once the players were able to execute it.
“To be successful you need to build into seasons, you can’t be at your best early,” he said.
He did concede they were still playing well below their best.
“Our conversion, our ability to hurt teams on the scoreboard, is something that I’m going to look for in the next couple of weeks. We want guys who are able to convert and do some damage there, because obviously that scoreboard pressure’s really important and we haven’t been able to do that.”
Wyndham Vale 10.11 (71) d Glen Orden 7.8 (50).
Goals: Wyndham Vale: C. MacKey 3, D. Bunworth 2. Glen Orden: J. MacDonald 2, R. Bucktin.
Best: Wyndham Vale: D. Ellis, J. Van Der Munnik. Glen Orden: T. Angelini, J. MacDonald.
