ALTONA is only percentage points away from cracking the top five after an upset win over Port Melbourne in the Western Region Football League on Saturday.
The six-point win was the only one that didn’t quite go to script on the weekend, with Spotswood annihilating an undermanned Hoppers Crossing, making way for an in-form St Albans to snatch third on the ladder.
Altona came back from four losses to win a tense battle and restore the faith in its supporters. The Vikings were down by three goals at half-time despite having more scoring shots, but steadied their kicking in the second half while the Colts ran out of puff.
Spotswood was clear favourite against the injury-ravaged Warriors, but one would suspect that even a full-strength outfit would have been no match for the marauding Woodsmen, who smashed their opponents by 113 points. Hoppers Crossing was down by six goals at half time but battling bravely, before Spotswood exploded in the third quarter, kicking eight goals to nothing. If not for some wayward kicking, the margin could have been worse.
Albion did right by its elder statesmen and easily accounted for Sunshine Heights before the club celebrated 50 years in the WRFL and inducted its inaugural hall of fame members on Saturday night.
There were no surprises in the other two games with Sunshine and St Albans having no trouble dispatching West Footscray and Glen Orden.
No WRFL games are scheduled for this Queen’s birthday long weekend.
Games resume on 19 June when Albion takes on Sunshine in what promises to be one of the matches of the season so far, while Altona could sneak into the top five if it defeats Glen Orden and Port Melbourne lose to flag favourites Spotswood.
