By Mark Murray
ST ALBANS got its Western Region Football League (WRFL) Division One season off to a flier with a 22-point win over Sunshine on Saturday.
The Kangaroos had more scoring shots than the Saints, however booted a wasteful 13.19 and never seriously threatened to win the match.
St Albans maintained a five-goal buffer for the bulk of the match with David Scott enjoying a brilliant match across centre half back.
He thwarted a number of Sunshine attacks and dished off to his runners beautifully, which saw the Saints rebound strongly from defence.
“We were stoked and it’s a tremendous way to start the season,” St Albans Football Club manager Richard Jimenez said.
“We haven’t had the best preparation and haven’t been able to train on our ground so we were always a little cautious as to how we’d go.
“But the boys stepped up and played some great footy.”
Michael Stooner also had an influence across half forward for the Kangaroos while Aaron Edwards was strong in defence.
Jesse Wells also won plenty of the footy on a wing.
“They had a few scoring shots but we were always in control of the game,” Jimenez said.
“Hopefully we can continue it on against Spotswood this week.
In the 2006 grand final replay, Port Melbourne Colts handed Hoppers Crossing more misery with a 17-point triumph at J.J. Murphy Reserve.
The reigning premier again snatched victory from the jaws of defeat thanks to two brilliant goals from the boundary line from Steve McAnulty.
With about five minutes to play the Colts trailed by 10 points after earlier holding a 40-point advantage midway through the second quarter, but McAnulty came to the rescue.
He slotted consecutive goals from the tightest of angles to give Port the lead, which it extended just before the final siren.
Colts co-coach John Ellis said the team was lucky to escape with the points.
The team also overran the Warriors in last year’s grand final.
“They must be getting sick of us, but it was a good win in the end,” Ellis said.
The Colts had winners across all lines with Reservoir recruit Dave McGregor enjoying a memorable debut for his new club.
He booted six goals and had a hand in a few more while John Lindsay also impressed in his first match for the club.
Captain Brett Jacobs also impressed while Torren Bonnett was instrumental in the tense final quarter with some telling possessions. Keiran Murphy and David Leach were ferocious at the footy for Hoppers Crossing and sparked a comeback during the third term.
Meanwhile, Yarraville-Seddon ran rampant after quarter-time to crush newcomer Glen Orden by 74 points in the season opener at Yarraville on Saturday.
The Eagles trailed by four goals at the first change with the Hawks jumping out of the blocks in their first Division One match after winning the Division Two flag last year.
They struggled to find a winner after that, with the Eagles carrying the footy with pace on its big home ground through Dean Chandler on the wing and Jamie Zerafu.
Zerafu finished with four goals from the midfield while captain Erin Bull and David King were also stars in the win.
“After quarter-time we outscored them 18 goals to three, so it was a pretty impressive performance,” Yarraville-Seddon co-coach Rocci Iannello said.
“They jumped us from the start, and maybe it was a few nerves or they were pumped up for their first game in the top division.
“But we managed to break the shackles a bit after quarter-time, which was pleasing.”
In other matches, Albion ran away with a 38-point win over Altona in front of a big home crowd while Spotswood demolished Parkside by 145 points in an intimidating display.
