IT was only in the past couple of years that Spotswood and Albion played consecutive hard-fought Western Region Football League division 1 grand finals.
The two sides were evenly matched for 24 months, with the Woodsmen denied a premiership four-peat in 2010 but getting one back over Albion a year later.
The Woodsmen have remained relevant in the premiership discussions, but Albion’s stay at the top was short lived. On Saturday, the Woodsmen showed how far Albion has fallen, winning by a massive 155 points at McLean Reserve.
Mick Lewis was outstanding for the Woodsmen, booting six goals in a best-on-ground performance.
The Woodsmen had 13 individual goalkickers, including four goals to player-coach Chris O’Keefe.
North Footscray was not the pushover that Altona might have expected at Hansen Reserve.
The bottom-of-the-ladder Devils managed 20 scoring shots against the reigning premier, with Sam Kater and Sam Denby-Blake in the thick of the action. The Vikings had too much class, with the experience of captain Josh Russo and five goals to Jayden Post too much for the spirited Devils to handle.
Deer Park’s win streak came to an end at 11 with a shock 45-point loss to Sunshine Kangaroos.
In division 2, Parkside had a surprisingly easy time of it against Caroline Springs, winning by 124 points. West Footscray escaped with a narrow eight-point win over winless Laverton Magpies.
The improving Magpies will be kicking themselves for letting the game slip after leading by 22 points at three-quarter time.
