Travis Lunardi was again in good form during Altona’s thumping of North Footscray. 84831_02 Picture: DAMIAN VISENTINI
By ADEM SARICAOGLU
ALTONA again proved why they are premiership favourites after a thumping win over North Footscray at Hansen Reserve on Saturday.
The Vikings’ percentage was boosted more than 15 per cent after they kicked 27 goals to eventually beat the Devils by 156 points.
They started the game in blistering touch and by quarter time were already out to a 58-point lead while managing to keep the Devils scoreless.
By halftime Altona was out to an 84-point buffer, but coach Anthony Eames wasn’t impressed with how his team came out after the first change.
“To be honest we took the foot off the pedal a little bit after the first quarter,” Eames said.
“Direction into forward 50 wasn’t all that good at times and with our use through the middle we probably over-used it a bit.
“I think at the moment we’re in two minds with their handball, to give the extra one or kick, and when we do kick we’re not necessarily kicking to the right target.
“But in saying that we’ve come away with a 25-goal win, so the boys are committed and playing some handy footy and at the moment, but it’s not brilliant yet, so we’ve got a bit of work to do.”
The Vikings kicked 13 goals to North Footscray’s two in the second half, but Eames says the club’s current objective is on improving and fine-tuning its game ahead of the finals series, where the focus will be ball handling.
“It’s got a lot to do with our decision-making by hand or by foot,” Eames said.
“There’s some big Tuesday’s coming up for us to be able to dedicate a little bit of time on decision making on the track, and I think that we should be able to sort that out.”
Altona’s current percentage is nearly 50 per cent better than Spotswood, who remains the only club that can knock the Vikings out of top spot.
When asked if boosting percentage became a factor during such lopsided games, Eames was blunt with his response.
“We’re not playing any games for percentage and I think that to even go into a game with that mindset is fairly disrespectful to the opposition,” he said.
“The percentage and points and all that sort of stuff will take care of itself, we’ve just got to keep winning games of footy.”
This Saturday the Vikings host Albion, while North Footscray travels to Sunshine Heights.
