Altona Vikings coach Saade Ghazi has declared his side “back in the hunt” after a gallant nine-point win over the in-form Sunshine Kangaroos in the Western Region Football League division 1 at Kinder Smith Reserve on Saturday.
Ghazi was speaking from a win-loss perspective, after his side squared the ledger at 4-4, more so than a performance standpoint, because he never once considered his side out of the finals race with the way they were playing for the most part in games this season.
“We’ve lost four games by 22 points in total and one of those games didn’t even finish [due to poor weather], so we’re around the mark,” Ghazi said.
“Obviously it was the win that we had to have.
“It puts us into fifth position and we’re getting some momentum now.”
Altona desperately needed the four premiership points, no matter which way they were achieved.
The fact it came in the pressure cooker of a blockbuster game against Sunshine gives the Vikings even more validation that what they are doing is right.
Ghazi stopped short of saying it was the Vikings best win under him – he steered them to two finals victories last season and an upset of four-peat premiers Deer Park – but he was not hiding his delight.
“I’m extremely proud of our football club today,” he said. “I was proud of our players, they were outstanding, they were tough and showed enough quality.”
Altona was deserving of its victory.
Sunshine coach Barney Hallinan conceded the Vikings, led by ruckman Mark Paget and onballer Steve Kennedy, won the midfield battle.
The Vikings were also in command across half-back, with Jayden Post and Joel Magnabosco producing outstanding performances.
They were also one man down for most of the day after star midfielder Jordan Robbins injured his ankle.
“To win without him for three quarters was a pretty good effort,” Ghazi said.
Even though Altona went into three-quarter time with a 16-point advantage, Ghazi knew Sunshine was not going to make it easy for his side in the last quarter.
The Kangaroos actually hit the front entering time-on, but two late goals ensured the Vikings would win a close one.
“We couldn’t get our hands on it for the first 15 minutes of the last quarter and you’ve got to give credit to Sunshine, they’re on top for a reason,” Ghazi said.
“It was just a great reward for the footy club.”
Meanwhile, Spotswood had a resounding 88-point win over Werribee Districts at Soldiers Reserve, led by six goals from Charles Bettiol and a best-on-ground from Tom Langlands.
In division 2, premiership favourite North Footscray had a thumping 71-point win over Newport Power on a day when Jason Butty (seven goals) and Tyren Montebruno (six) combined for 13 goals, while Yarraville-Seddon held off Manor Lakes by 28 points and West Footscray fell short by 38 against Albanvale.
In division 3, Parkside kicked 23 second half goals to run out 159-point winners over Laverton, with Jason Cloke (seven), Jack Collard (six) and Brayden Maynard (five) sharing in 18 goals, while the Wyndham Suns gave Braybrook a 116-point shellacking.
