IF there was any doubt whether Deer Park was the real deal in Western Region Football League division 1, it was extinguished on Saturday.
The Lions, who missed finals last year on percentage, toppled the reigning division 1 premiers Altona.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the big game.
And with former Essendon and St Kilda star Andrew Lovett to join the team this weekend, the Lions have suddenly become a formidable outfit. Deer Park is the only undefeated team left in the top tier, ahead of Sunshine, Altona, Spotswood and Hoppers Crossing with three wins.
Lions coach Marc Bullen said it was a momentous day for his side.
“Altona are a good side but now we know we can beat anyone on our day.”
Division 1
Deer Park 20.20 (140) d Altona 19.11 (125). Altona – goals: Post 4, Shiels, Robbins 3, Rafferty, Jawad 2, Lunardi, Spiteri, Turnbull, Halloran, Cross. Best: Halloran, Post, Robbins, Rafferty, Kennedy, Cross.
Hoppers Crossing 17.12 (114) d Yarraville-Seddon 6.12 (48). Yarraville-Seddon – goals: Dorazio, Stretton, Krakouer, Newtown, Topalidis, Willis. Best: Pearce, Jansz, Harmes, Collins, Dorazio, Stretton.
Spotswood 17.14 (116) St Albans 14.7 (91). Spotswood – goals: Cloke 4, El-Hawli 3, Fogarty, Elliott, Callard 2, O’Keefe, Langlands, Orchard, Ryan. Best: Langlands, Elliott, O’Keefe, El-Hawli, Langlands, Lynch.
North Footscray 6.6 (42) lt Albion 21.15 (141). North Footscray – goals: Wills, Wilson, Dardha, Aspiotis, Jackson, Peters. Best: Riddle, O’Donnell, Jackson, Peters, Wilson, Brown.
Around the grounds: Port Melbourne Colts 11.8 (74) lt Sunshine 22.12 (144).
Next round: Albion v Deer Park, Altona v Port Melbourne Colts, Spotswood v North Footscray, Sunshine v Hoppers Crossing, Yarraville-Seddon v St Albans.
Division 2
Sunshine Heights 23.15 (153) d West Footscray 6.9 (45). West Footscray – goals: Augustine 4, Trowsdale 2. Best: Speakman, Augustine, Griffin, Lay, Trowsdale, Turner.
Parkside 10.16 (76) d Wyndhamvale 7.12 (54). Parkside – goals: Mastropasqua 3, Towns, Ryan, Muratore, Grant, Bera, Pearce, Gervasi. Best: Ryan, Muratore, Grant, Bera, Fowler, Pearce.
Sanctuary Lakes 14.13 (97) d Laverton 11.11 (77). Laverton – goals: Mulroy 3, Kelso, Boxshall 2, Paone, O’Donnell, Bublenik, Ristevski. Best: Lawry, Dunne, Mulroy, Spiteri, Collins, Paone.
Around the grounds: Albanvale 9.4 (58) lt Glenorden 40.14 (254), North Sunshine 6.8 (44) lt Braybrook 15.17 (107), Manor Lakes 16.15 (111) d Caroline Springs 7.8 (50).
Next round: Albanvale v West Footscray, Braybrook v Sanctuary Lakes, Laverton v Parkside, Wyndhamvale v Sunshine Heights, North Sunshine v Caroline Springs, Glenorden v Manor Lakes.
