By Stuart Teather
KEILOR paid the price for a slow start in its Essendon District Football League clash with Strathmore on Saturday, going down by two-points after a thrilling final quarter.
The Blues had a nightmare start, falling 40 points behind at the first break, but clawed their way back into the match to the point that they almost snatched an unlikely win, eventually going down 14.11.95 to 13.15.93.
Strathmore flew out of the blocks, running all over Keilor in a stunning opening quarter.
Asked what he said to his charges at the quarter-time huddle, Keilor coach Mick McGuane was frank.
“Not much at all, I didn’t have to,” he said. “They just blew us out of the water, they were hungrier, harder, quicker, moving the ball a lot better than us.”
The Blues worked their way back into the game in the next two quarters, keeping within four goals for most of the match. In the final term the side clicked and worked its way back into the match, but never hit the front and Strathmore took the points.
While he was disappointed with the loss, McGuane had his eyes firmly focused on September and said the result meant little. “Not really, to the point that it’s not going to effect anything,” he said. “It’s of no relevance to the rest of the home and away season, we’re not going to get knocked out and they’re not going to get to second.”
However, the warning signs are there for the reigning premiers, with the Blues having won just one game out of six against top four sides, when it defeated Maribyrnong Park in round one.
On top of that the club has lost Travis Moloney and Michael James to season-ending injuries.
But the positives remain: John Lambropoulos kicked five against Strathmore and the Blues have the competition’s leading goalkicker in Jarrod Garth, as well as one of the sharpest coaches going around.
Few will forget Keilor’s against-the-odds victory in last year’s grand final against Greenvale, and can never be written off.
This Saturday the Blues take on Craigieburn at Keilor Recreation Reserve, before facing West Coburg in their final home-and-away game for the year.
Elsewhere, Greenvale defeated Aberfeldie, Maribyrnong Park beat Glenroy, Craigieburn smashed West Coburg and Avondale Heights had a big win against Doutta.
