LAVERTON got caught napping and suffered a shock result in the Western Region Football League division 2 season opener at Laverton Park last Saturday.
It’s back to the drawing board for the Magpies after an unexpected 18-point loss to Braybrook that puts them behind the eight ball after the Easter break.
Magpies coach Justin Moran will have plenty of work to do over the next fortnight, including sharpening up a blunt forward line that, without injured stars Matt Zurek and Mick Lindsay, managed just 16 scoring shots.
“That’s big for us,” Moran said of the injury impact.
“That would’ve been the difference in the game. We just didn’t have enough people presenting.”
The Magpies enjoyed a bounce-back year in 2011, leaping
off the canvas for a strong mid-table finish and was heavily backed during preseason to make further inroads on the top sides.
This result is undoubtedly a setback, but Moran is hoping it is an aberration.
“It’s a very disappointing result. A lot of people are already writing us off after this performance.
“I’ve said all along that we won’t hit our straps until round three or four,” Moran said. “It’s definitely not the end of the world.”
The Magpies started the game with promise and led by 17 points at quarter time.
After registering nine of the first 11 scoring shots, they should have been further in front.
The last three terms were a different story, with Bombers coach John Whelan making some important adjustments.
“Laverton were getting a really good run off their half-back,” Whelan said. “We were mindful of that and rotated exceptionally well through the midfield to counter that.
“We also started winning the midfield clearances.”
The result was a starvation in the Magpies’ attack, and they added only seven further scoring shots in the final three quarters.
The Magpies had plenty of strong individual performers despite being on the wrong end of the scoreline.
Moran described five-goal forward Adam Jacobs as “sensational” and praised the efforts of full-back Brad McNamara, hard-running midfielder Blake Robinson, ruck rover Chris Matcham and ruckman Leigh Howard.
SCORES: Division 2
Albanvale 55.33 (363) d North Sunshine 1.1 (7)
Glenorden 13.13 (91) d Coburg Districts 11.6 (72)
Laverton Magpies 10.6 (66) lt Braybrook 12.12 (84)
West Footscray 12.11 (83) d Caroline Springs 10.13 (73)
