By ADEM SARICAOGLU
KEILOR’S horror week off the field ended well on the field on Saturday.
Last week the Essendon District Football League stripped the Blues of their round one win over Avondale Heights after it was found Jason Williams was ineligible to play in the game.
Williams had not been given the required approval from VFL club Port Melbourne to suit up for Keilor in the mid-April clash, which the Blues had won by 15 points.
But despite the setback, and with no premiership points in the bank, Keilor went to Pascoe Vale’s Raeburn Reserve and produced a solid 54-point win.
Williams was back in the line-up after missing the previous week at Greenvale, and won praise from coach Mick McGuane the following day.
“He didn’t let it affect him at all,” McGuane said.“It’s the system, it’s an uncontrollable, and the club handled it magnificently.”
McGuane’s sentiments extended to his entire playing group as a whole.
“The boys were terrific,” he said.“They had a steely resolve about them right from Tuesday night and it was just great to put those thoughts into actions.“That’s what this game’s about. It’s about actions and our boys implemented those actions the right way yesterday.”
In a game heavily influenced by a steady breeze the Blues went into the quarter time break down two goals, but managed to pile on five goals in the second term to go into the main break up by 10.
A huge defensive effort in the third term restricted Pascoe Vale to just one goal as Keilor’s buffer remained intact at the final change.
The margin was only seven points at three-quarter time but it didn’t stay within single figures much longer.
Keilor doubled its score in the final term with a whopping 8.7 to the Panther’s 1.2, blowing the final margin out to an even nine goals.
McGuane was pleased with his side’s efforts kicking into the wind.
“They were hard and tough at the footy and to beat Pacco in Pacco in trying conditions and frustrating conditions – it was a great result,” McGuane said.
“I thought our first 15 minutes in the first quarter probably set the tone.
“We controlled the footy (and) we kicked a couple of goals into the wind,” he said.
“I just felt that we were right in the game and from that point we just set ourselves up for victory.”
Though the form line reads 1-3, Keilor has proven itself a contender in the EDFL’s Premier Division.
With front-liners Jarrod Garth, Brad Clifton, Rob Trajkovski, David Gourdis and Kane Barbuto all missing on Saturday, McGuane noted the depth of Keilor’s list.
“We’re far from our best team, and that’s the real positive from where we sit internally,” he said.
This Saturday the Blues host Aberfeldie.
