Spotswood’s Ben Pope, right, gathers the ball as Altona’s Riak Riak, left, applies pressure in Saturday’s WRFL clash. 81278 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
SPOTSWOOD has stamped its authority over the WRFL’s Division One after defeating Altona in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at McLean Reserve.
The Woodsmen kicked away from Altona in the final term to win by 27 points, 12.11 (83) to 7.14 (56).
Spotswood is now the only undefeated team in Division One, while Altona still sits second with a better percentage than third-placed Hoppers Crossing.
Kicking with a breeze to start the game, the Woodsmen kicked clear in the first term and by quarter time had established a 14-point lead.
However the Vikings outscored Spotswood by four goals to one in the second term and by halftime found themselves ahead by 10, but were very wasteful in front of goal, scoring 4.7 for the quarter.
Spotswood player-coach Chris O’Keefe, who kicked three crucial goals for the day, said his side should have been further behind at the main break.
“They probably had the scoring end at that time and they were able to get on top a bit and kick some goals, but they probably really should have been in front by a bit more at half time,” O’Keefe said.
“We just weren’t able to get our hands on the footy and they got themselves back into the game and got themselves in front, so we addressed that at half time and had to bounce back and get back into it.”
Spotswood did get back into the game in third quarter and by three-quarter time they were back in front, but only by two points.
“We spoke at three-quarter time and we knew that we had to take the game on,” O’Keefe said.
“We had to start taking a few risks and making sure we played the game our way and we knew Altona were going to the scoring end.”
Kicking into the breeze didn’t faze Spotswood in the final quarter, as they took complete control of the game and cruised to victory.
Altona coach Anthony Eames said it was disappointing the Vikings couldn’t finish Spotswood off throughout the second half.
“That was a disappointing end to what was a pretty solid contest until three-quarter time,” Eames said.
“We had a heap of the ball in the second quarter but (we) just couldn’t capitalise and we missed a number of goals from dead in front in the second and the third so that proved certainly costly in the last quarter.”
