Deadly … Cameron Sharp starred with a seven-goal haul against Hoppers Crossing on Saturday. 65226 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Michael Esposito
THE intrigue surrounding the Spotswood and Hoppers Crossing match dissipated by the end of the first quarter on Saturday after the Woodsmen recorded a stunning 151-point victory against the weaponless Warriors.
Spotswood sprinted to a 10-goal lead at the first break, and showed little mercy to comprehensively win every quarter.
Spotswood coach Chris O’Keefe said he was surprised by how dominant his side was against a team which has been ultra-competitive against some of the league’s better sides this year
“I really thought yesterday’s game was going to be a danger game,” O’Keefe said. “Coming off playing the bottom team (Glen Orden) last week and Hoppers having been very competitive against Colts and Albion, I thought if we were off our game that it could get under our guard.
“But we really made sure throughout the week that we sent that message through that we had to bring our ‘A’ game, and to come out in the first quarter and kick 11 goals to one just really set the game up.”
Rohan Couch and Jason Cloke were Spotswood’s top performers, while Cameron Sharp kicked seven goals.
O’Keefe said there was be no room for complacency this year as Spotswood aimed to atone for its grand final loss last season.
“That’s the trap you can fall into when you continue winning, and that’s the challenge that we face each week now to make sure that we’re never happy with what we’ve done so far.
“Everybody really understands that they have to play their role and play their part in the team because with the guys coming up from the reserves, if you don’t perform you won’t have your spot the following week. It’s pretty cut-throat and it’s a really good position to be in as a club.”
IN other results, St Albans pipped Altona by five points in a game characterised by poor kicking for goal.
The Saints squandered countless opportunities in the first half to be 13 points up at the main break. A scoreboard reading of 3.10 (28) to 2.3 (15) told the story of attacking dominance gone to waste. Altona had the better of the second half and was 11-points up at the last break, before St Albans rallied to win in a nail-biter.
Sunshine had a much-needed victory over North Footscray, winning 19.16 (130) to 8.7 (55). The Kangaroos have two winnable games against Sunshine Heights and Hoppers Crossing and could be just one game out of the five come the midway point.
Shaydon Bloomfield kicked 10 goals in Albion’s thrashing of Sunshine Heights. The 26.17 (173) to 5.3 (33) scoreline told a sorry tale for the Dragons, who have failed to be competitive several times this season.
But the most one-sided game was between Port Melbourne and Glen Orden, in which the Colts defeated the Hawks 42.13 (265) to 3.7 (25).
Spotswood 29.17 (191) d Hoppers Crossing 5.10 (40).
Goals Spotswood: C. Sharp 7, M. Lewis 3. Hoppers Crossing: J. Butty 2, A. Williams.
Best Spotswood: R. Couch, J. Cloke. Hoppers Crossing: C. Brierty, C. Watt.
