Braybrook’s Nathan MacDonald lays a tackle on West Footscray’s Jaydan Trowsdale. 80323 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
WHLE the Collingwood and Essendon game was a thriller, the Western Region Football League Anzac Day clash was not so close, with West Footscray accounting for Braybrook by 11 goals on Wednesday.
Lindon Harris booted seven goals for the Roosters to take his season tally to 26, as West Footscray won 20.16 (136) to 9.6 (60).
Still, both coaches embraced the concept of an Anzac Day clash between the two traditional rivals. “I think it’s a fantastic concept,” Braybrook coach John Whelan said. “Whilst there’s certainly some rivalry there there’s also a lot of mutual respect for one another.
“Unfortunately the weather was a little bit ordinary, but if it had been a little bit more of a finer day I’m sure the numbers would have been greater than what the were.”
West Footscray coach Rohan Mackenzie also backed the idea of an annual Anzac Day match between the same two sides, suggesting the clubs should take turns in hosting it.
Mackenzie said he was pleased to have three wins from the first four games, but noted the real challenges were still to come.
“We have played three of the bottom sides so we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves. We’ve got a lot of new guys so they’re staring to gel and starting to play the game style that I want them to play so they’re starting to move a lot better,” he said.
West Footscray’s next opponent is premiership favourite Yarraville Seddon, but it’s not until 12 May.
“I don’t think it’s a good thing to have two-and-a-half weeks off but that’s the way the fixture fell so that’s what were stuck with. We’ll be doing a hard week on the track in the next couple of weeks to sure we’re ready for Yarraville.”
Whelan said Braybrook was moving in the right direction after a horror year last year. The Bombers won just three games last season, but began this season with a victory against Laverton. They have however been soundly beaten in the last three rounds.
“We’d like to set a good foundation this year. While the score lines might not have suggested that over the last couple of weeks, the opposition should certainly know that Braybrook Football Club’s a lot more competitive than it has been in previous years.
