Tara Murray
West Footscray’s upwards trend is continuing with the side already putting the pieces into place for next year’s Western Football League division 2 season.
After struggling for a couple of seasons, the Roosters have themselves in finals contention with two rounds remaining.
While coach Troy Beamond knows that it will be tough to make that top six, there’s been plenty of positives this season.
Beamond has already signed on for next season something that was an easy decision.
“We’ve had a lot of new faces over the two years,” he said. “We’ve been working towards what we are and where we want to be.
“Everyone we’ve spoken to about next year has signed on. I was happy to stay and the players wanted me to.”
On Saturday, the Roosters faced a red hot Newport team.
Newport did all the damage in the first half, leading by 80 points at the main break.
After that period, it was eight goals to seven in the favour of Newport, which won 24.16 (160)-10.12 (72).
“It was a tough day, especially in the first half,” Beamond said. “They are definitely better than us.
“After half time it was only eight points and we were a lot more competitive and we will take that
“We weren’t happy to be done by that much, but we fought in the second half.”
Beamond said they had 40 players either injured or unavailable.
He said he hadn’t seen anything like that before.
“To still be able to put two sides out there is really pleasing and shows that we’ve come a long way,” he said.
Matthew Turcinovich kicked three goals for the Roosters, while EJ Sharp kicked two goals.
Sharp and Samuel Hall were named their best.
For the Panthers, who sit in fourth spot, Abdul Jawad and Hussein Hasna were named their best.
The Roosters sit in ninth spot with two rounds remaining.
They are just one game behind the Suns that sit in sixth spot.
Beamond said it was unlikely they would play finals, but they will still give it a crack.
“We have to win our two games and have results go our way,” he said. “It’s a bit unlikely with having to rely on results but we’ll focus on what we need to do and that is win two games.”
The Roosters face the Western Rams this Saturday.
In other results, Albion was way too strong for Braybrook winning, 30.24 (204)-3.5 (23) with the Brookers now seventh on the ladder.
Laverton got its fourth win of the season against Western Rams and North Footscray lost to Sunshine, 17.26 (128)-5.7 (37).
The Devils sit percentage outside the top six.
In division 1, Spotswood lost to Caroline Springs, Altona beat Hoppers Crossing and Parkside smashed Point Cook Centrals.
Yarraville Seddon had the bye.
