An indifferent start to the season for the respective clubs made Saturday a critical juncture for Altona and Sunshine Kangaroos in division 1 of the Western Region Football League.
It was a case of win and stamp yourself a serious finals contender, lose and you’re on your way to a winter of playing catch-up.
And Altona, led by ruckman Josh Rafferty, made its intentions loud and clear with a 33-point win at Grant Reserve to join the finals-hunting pack.
“I’m very proud of our group,” Vikings coach Saade Ghazi told Star Weekly.
“We played against good strong opposition, both clubs were 3-3 and obviously the win was crucial for both clubs.
“It puts us a game clear in the five, so it was very important.”
After starting the season a miserable 1-3, Altona has won its past three to gatecrash the top-five party.
In their best form and with their strongest list to choose from, the Vikings fancy their chances against any side in the competition but rarely have all the ingredients come together.
“We’ve had players in and out like other clubs, injured and unavailable through VFL [commitments] and overseas,” Ghazi lamented.
“At this stage we’re happy with where we’re tracking.”
As much as Altona yearned for instant gratification, it was always going to be a work in progress with a new coach on board.
Ghazi’s rule is still in its infancy, but the players are picking up what he is trying to teach them and the brand of football he wants.
“We’ve only been together for seven games,” he said.
“It’s all right to train and have practice matches but the more we play, the better understanding we’ll get of a few things … what they expect from me, what they expect from the game plan.
“And I don’t make assumptions on players, so I’m still trying to learn what they can and can’t do.”
Ghazi’s early impression of the Vikings’ list is that it’s made up of six top-line players and a further 28 fighting to be in the ones.
The top-end reserves are pressing for seniors selection, which is keeping the senior players on their toes. It is a list in healthy shape.
“We’ve got a good group,” Ghazi said.
“We’re very even after our best six, going all the way down from our seventh player to our 34th player on the list, so we have six or eight blokes really pushing for senior selection.
“I think it’s good that there’s pressure coming from the reserves.
“We have a few knocking on the door and having the pressure on those guys in the seniors is getting the best out of them.”
Rafferty was outstanding for the Vikings in the win over Sunshine, the mobile ruckman continuing his purple patch across the first seven games.
“He’s good in the ruck but when the ball hits the ground he gives us another midfielder,” Ghazi said. “He’s really good at second and third efforts with his tackling.”
The Vikings won a low-scoring tussle nine goals to four, just the type of scoreline that pleases Ghazi.
“We’re not a side that kicks big scores, so if we kick around 10 or 12 and keep the opposition to six or seven, I’d be more than happy,” he said.
Altona have three games on the road, starting with a danger game at Albion on Saturday.
