West Footscray co-coach David Orchard has warned the rest of the Western Region Football League division 2 that his team’s best football is still to come.
The Roosters are lacking time spent together – unlike the three leading clubs in the competition.
Glenorden, Parkside and Wyndhamvale occupy first to third.
Those clubs have spent years moulding their playing lists, learning game plans and getting to know teammates’ playing styles.
After years of being also-rans, the Roosters felt the time was right to upgrade their playing list with a host of new recruits in a bid to avoid a tumble to division 3, but their cohesion as a unit is still not at its optimum.
“I think on paper we’ve got one of the best lists in the comp,” Orchard said. “But we’ve got a bunch of blokes who have only played 11 games together, whereas Parkside, Glenorden and Wyndhamvale have had lists together for the last four, five or six years.
“The reality is, we’ve got a bit of work to do, but we know where the benchmark is and we know what we need to do to get there.
“The boys are starting to hit their straps now and they’re getting to know each other.”
The Roosters have provided an exciting point of difference in the top four.
Parkside and Wyndhamvale have been premiership contenders for a long time, while Glenorden is the reigning premier that has done remarkably well to remain undefeated, despite the exit of a number of key players at the end of last season.
“They’re still the team to beat – that’s the reality,” Orchard said of Glenorden, his side’s next opponent.
The Roosters remain a game and a hefty wad of percentage outside the top two double-chance spots, despite a crushing 98-point win over Sunshine Heights on the road at Ainsworth Reserve on Saturday.
They have the chance to compress the top four with a win over Glenorden in this Saturday’s blockbuster at Shorten Reserve.
The Roosters’ record against top four sides this season stands at a shaky 0-2, a fact that would not be lost on Orchard and his players. who have a point to prove – that they deserve to be considered among the best teams in the competition.
Orchard wants to turn Shorten Reserve into a sea of red and white for Saturday’s biggest home game of the season and has urged Roosters supporters to get behind the team and turn out in big numbers.
Also in division 2, North Footscray held first year club Tarneit goalless in a 217-point win away at Wootten Road Reserve.
Robbie Cavka and Adam Vukovic booted eight goals apiece and Kieran Murphy chimed in with seven.
Laverton Magpies lost by 132 points to Glenorden on their travels to Heathdale Oval.
In division 1, Spotswood had an easier-than-expected 68-point victory over St Albans at McLean Reserve to remain third on the ladder, while Altona was an 88-point winner over cellar dweller Yarraville-Seddon at the Yarraville Oval.
