Altona has moved beyond the stage of accepting honourable losses.
The Vikings were left with a sour after-taste when they slipped to four-peat premiers Deer Park by nine points in the Western Region Football League division 1 season opener at John McLeod Oval on Saturday.
It was a contest worthy of September – the Vikings showed they will be serious contenders in the top flight this season, but it was not enough to satisfy coach Saade Ghazi.
“We’re in it to win games of footy, and honourable losses don’t interest me in any way,” he said. “For us to take the next step – we finished fourth last year – we’re aiming to finish in the top three.
“That loss is a big blow because you’ve got to get probably 12 wins, and that leaves us 17 games to get 12 wins now.
“We’re putting pressure on the group, we’re putting pressure on myself and the match committee, that’s the way we want it.
“We’ve got goals and if we don’t achieve those goals, it will be a failure.”
After a number of twists and turns, Altona had the champions where it wanted them at three-quarter time.
The Vikings held an eight-point lead going into the last quarter, but did not have the composure to clinch the four points.
Deer Park kicked four of the last five goals of the match to finish a memorable day when it unfurled its 2016 flag with a win.
“We had our chances,” Ghazi said.
“It was a strong contest, a few mistakes from both teams, but they were too good on the day, so you’ve got to give credit where it’s due.
“I was really disappointed with some of our skills errors, but I guess with the opposition putting pressure on you, that’s what happens.”
Prized recruit Steve Kennedy showed why Altona was thrilled to secure his signature.
Kennedy kicked three goals and collected plenty of ball across the midfield and half forward.
Mark Paget, another new recruit, had a limited off season, but showed he will be an important acquisition to bolster the ruck stocks.
The Vikings were also thrilled to see Jayden Post in the purple and gold after his football career was put on hold last season by a burst artery in one of his legs.
Altona’s gruelling start to 2017 will not get any easier this week with last season’s runners-up, Hoppers Crossing, paying a visit to JK Grant Reserve on Saturday.
Hoppers will enter the game fresh after their round one game was postponed to Good Friday.
But Ghazi believes the tough hit-out against Deer Park will stand his side in good stead.
“No matter how many games you’ve played in your career, you always get the cobwebs out in that first game,” he said.
“We’ve had a really strong contest in the heat of the battle.
“I think it will work for us,” he said.
