ALTONA Vikings assumed total control of the scoreboard in a 51-point win over Hoppers Crossing in the Western Region Football League division 1 at Hogans Road Reserve on Saturday.
In general play, however, a real arm wrestle ensued, leading Vikings coach Anthony Eames to concede the final margin did not reflect the spirited nature of the contest.
“Even though we won by eight goals, there were times in the game where they dominated possession and would kick two or three in a row, then we’d get possession back and kick three or four.
They were persistent Hoppers and stayed at the task all day. We couldn’t really put them away until the end.”
The Vikings went into quarter-time holding a 21-point lead after kicking seven straight first-term goals and edged further in front by half-time, extending the lead to 29.
The first signs of the Warriors wobbling came with a flurry of five third-quarter goals to two by the Vikings.
Travis Lunardi started to accumulate possessions at will, David Barnaby negated the key Warriors ball winners and forwards Richard Knight and Mitch Turnbull were as dangerous as ever with three goals apiece.
In the space of minutes, the margin blew out.
It was a warning to the rest of the competition; snooze against the Vikings and you’ll pay a hefty price.
Few sides in the league can turn an errant inside 50 entry from the opponent into a coast-to-coast goal seconds later like the Vikings can.
Eames says his side has worked overtime to improve this area of their game. “It’s something we’ve worked on for the last three years.
It’s ability to keep possession of the ball when you’re moving it. That’s something that’s improved for us over the journey.”
Still, it can be a high risk, high reward venture and Eames was not totally satisfied it was executed to the nth degree against the Warriors.
“We overused it a couple of times on centre wing and they were good enough to capitalise,” he said. “So we’ve still got a lot to work on but we’ve played two games and won both against solid opposition.”
The Vikings are one of three remaining undefeated teams in the competition, with Spotswood and Sunshine Kangaroos, and should extend their streak to three when they host bottom-of-the-ladder Sunshine Heights at JK Grant Reserve on Saturday, a game that was transferred from the Heights home at Ainsworth Reserve. The Woodsmen and the Kangaroos will meet at McLean Reserve on Saturday and one side will spoil its flawless record.
