Tara Murray
Altona’s season is back on track as it starts to rack up wins in the Western Football League division 1 competition.
The Vikings found themselves bottom of the table earlier in the season but are now just two points outside the top four after 12 rounds.
On Saturday, the Vikings produced one of their best performances of the season to shut down Yarraville Seddon.
The Eagles struggled to score, with the Vikings winning, 9.7 (61)-4.7 (31).
Vikings coach Travis Varcoe said it’s always nice to be on the winning side of things.
“The first half of the season we weren’t getting the results, but the tide is turning,” he said. “We’ve started to get our continuity together. We haven’t had our best 22 on the park.
“It’s been nice to find a couple of other players to play various roles in the side.
“It’s starting to come together now.”
Varcoe was thrilled with his side’s defensive effort on Saturday.
He said they were a side when they looked at the start of the season that they expected to be in the mix come the end of the year.
“For us to keep them to 31 points against a really strong outfit was really good,” he said.
“We did what we needed to and scored ourselves.”
James Callaway, Bailey Smith and Mitchell Van Den Berg kicked two goals each for the Vikings.
Luke Dyke, Ethan Taylor and Callaway were named their best. Varcoe also highlighted Luke Whatman and Jay Hansen as standouts.
Varcoe said a lot of their senior players stood up and the group was really starting to share the leadership on field.
“It was an even contribution.”
For the Eagles, Jess Varsamakis was the only multiple goal kicker with three goals. Darcy Grieves and Blake Green were named their best.
With other results, the Vikings are now just two points outside the top four.
They have a game in hand on Hoppers Crossing which sits in fourth spot.
“That is great for us,” Varcoe said. “We thought we might have shot ourselves in the foot with a couple of results.
“We take a holistic view on it and every game is important. It’s so condensed outside of Werribee Districts and Caroline Springs that have gone ahead.
“Every match can go any way and you might be able to get there or have to rely on results.
“It’s a great thing for the competition, it’s so close.”
This week the Vikings face Spotswood, while Yarraville Seddon faces Point Cook Centrals.
Varcoe said he expected Spotswood to come out firing after a shock loss on Saturday.
“Every game is an eight point game.”
In other matches on Saturday, Parkside and Hoppers Crossing played out the third draw of the season.
The Magpies’ poor kicking cost them in the 6.12 (48)-7.6 (48) result.
Spotswood had a disappointing outing against Point Cook Centrals, losing 7.10 (52)-4.11 (35).
