Tara Murray
West Footscray did its finals hopes no harm with a solid win against Tarneit in the Western Region Football League division 3 on Saturday.
Sitting fourth and fifth entering the game, the win gives the Roosters a two game gap on the Titans as they enter the back part of the season.
The Roosters managed to open up a lead in the first quarter and that would be the difference throughout the day.
The Roosters got the win, 14.4 (88)-6.12 (48).
Rooster coach Troy Beamond walked away from the game reasonably happy.
“It was great to win, it was one that we needed,” he said. “We are now two games clear in fourth spot.
“It wasn’t the prettiest game of footy, but we did what we needed to.”
Beamond said the last 10 minutes of the first quarter when they kicked five goals set up the win was the difference in the game.
He said the lead became crucial later on in the game.
“We had a couple of injuries on the day,” he said. “We pretty much spent the second half two down on the bench.
“We were 26 or 28 points up at quarter time and we sat on that all day.”
Matthew Turcinovich kicked three goals for the Roosters.
Nicholas Howard and Henry Lovell were named their best.
Lovell was one of two under-18s who played in the match. It was his first game for the season.
The other was Jack Gerardi, a bottom age under-18 player, who kicked two goals before hurting his shoulder in his senior debut.
Beamond said while they were happy to be sitting in the top four and in the finals conversation, they knew that they still had plenty of work ahead of them.
“We are still learning how to play with each other,” he said.
“We’ve had 21 senior debutants at the club this season, which is a massive number. You’ve got new guys and a new coach and we’re still figuring out how we want to play.
“We’re nine games in at the moment and have been hit hard by injuries. Finals are still the main aim, but we want to consistently get the best team we can on the park.”
The Roosters now face the biggest test this week, playing the ladder leading Suns.
The Suns have lost just one game for the season.
Beamond said they were disappointed the first time the two teams met and were keen to take it up to the big boys as they face second placed Albanvale the following week.
In other results, the Suns beat Albanvale and Sunshine Heights beat North Sunshine.
In division 2, Newport beat Braybrook, 18.15 (123)-5.8 (38).
Parkside remains undefeated after beating Wyndhamvale, 11.11 (77)-8.11 (59) and North Footscray lost to Albion 13.15 (93)-9.10 (64).
