West Footscray seeked and executed its own terms to dictate the top-of-the-table bout with Wyndhamvale and win by 11 points in the Western Region Football League division 2 at Shorten Reserve on Saturday.
The Roosters had gone away from their trademark competitiveness at the coal face at times this season and needed to re-calibrate in a big game against a fellow premiership contender.
Roosters coach David Orchard said his side had a physical edge in the contest and it went some way towards winning the low scoring arm wrestle.
“We were looking for a good contested game and that’s what we got,” he told Star Weekly.
“We’ve got a lot of bigger bodies but we’ve haven’t put that out there right up until this week.
“We hadn’t used that strength to our advantage until this game.”
It was important for the Roosters to get one back on Wyndhamvale ahead of likely meetings in the finals.
The sides appear to have the top two spots locked up and that would see them meet in week one of the finals for a direct passage to the grand final.
The Roosters not only moved two games and percentage clear of third, but also kept their minor premiership chances alive.
They are just a game behind Wyndhamvale with near identical percentages.
Orchard is not too fussed if the Roosters finish in first or second spot, but wants his side to build some momentum ahead of the finals and get back to playing their brand of football.
If nothing else, it was a major psychological boost for the Roosters in the run-in to the finals.
“One or two, it’s neither here nor there,” he said. “At the end of the day, you get your second chance if you finish in the top two.
“That’s where we are now and that’s where we were sort of looking at finishing.”
Michael Kennedy dominated in the air to be the driving force behind the Roosters win.
The ruckman is held in high regard around the club and the competition.
“Week in, week out, his attitude and professionalism towards getting himself up for the game is second to none,” Orchard said. “He missed four games last year and missed out on the comp medal by three votes, so it shows where he’s at as a player and he’s only getting better as we go on too.”
Tim Lyon was one of the stand outs on the wing in his first senior game back from a calf injury.
Tobi Bray, the inspirational captain, and Jadyn Trowdale, were consistent four-quarter performers, while Damien Yze continued his purple patch of form in front of goal with three majors.
It was the lesser lights who provided the Roosters with the spark they needed to get over a tough opponent.
“We had a number of boys out, so we had a few come in and they did their jobs. “It shows with the amount that we had out that we’ve still got that depth there which is real good for the club.”
The Roosters face a danger game against an in-form Caroline Springs away at Town Centre Oval on Saturday.
Elsewhere in division 2, North Footscray were brutal in an 86-point dismantling of Manor Lakes at Hansen Reserve, led by best-on-ground Sam Kater and five-goal star Lucas Hall.
Yarraville-Seddon got back into the winners circle after a two-week absence with a 95-point domination of bottom side Sunshine Heights at the Yarraville Oval. Jason Harmes and Chris Topalidis booted four each for the Eagles.
In division 3, Laverton Magpies had a stirring two-goal win over the much-fancied Wyndham Suns at Laverton Park, thanks largely to a seven-goal haul from Mick Lindsey. Parkside had to do it the the hard way to beat Tarneit by 16 points after its wayward kicking for goal almost brought them undone.
