Glenorden gave its supporters a glimpse of what’s possible with its shock seven-point win over finals contender Yarraville-Seddon in the Western Region Football League division 2 at Yarraville Oval on Saturday.
The Hawks have offered little more than nuisance value to sides on the top half of the ladder, with their only two wins so far coming against the winless Sunshine Heights.
This made for a memorable day for the Hawks, one that should instil confidence into the young, developing side.
“We haven’t had many wins – they’ve been few and far between – so it was good to pinch one off one of the teams that are up there,” Hawks’ football manager, Dean Comensoli, told Star Weekly.
“We’ve got no doubt our kids are good enough but, unfortunately, we haven’t brought our best out often enough this season.
“They showed what they can do and they’re going in the right direction.”
The Hawks worked hard to pinch this one. Fans must have been thinking ‘here we go again’ when the Eagles raced to a 26-point quarter-time lead and led by three goals at the half-time break.
The game turned on its head in a dizzying 10 minutes of the third quarter when Hawks’ goal sneak Matthew Sparks bagged four of his five goals in a best-on-ground performance.
“It was a brilliant patch of footy from him,” Comensoli said.
The Hawks went into the three-quarter time huddle with a seven-point advantage, which evaporated as the sides went goal-for-goal in the last term.
The influences of captain Mark Pozzuto and Josh Macdonald in the midfield and Mark Zammit and Ben Stornebrink in defence ensured the Hawks did not go quietly.
When Pozzuto goaled from 50 metres out with a minute to go, the Hawks had their own seven-point lead, one they would hold on to until the final siren of an unforgettable day.
“It’s the spark we needed to get us going to the rest of the year,” Comensoli said.
The Hawks will face Manor Lakes Storm in a local derby at Heathdale Oval on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Wyndhamvale continued its winning ways with a predictable 109-point win over Sunshine Heights on the back of six goals to Chris Benson.
In division 1, Hoppers Crossing held on for a thrilling five-point win over St Albans at Hogans Road to maintain third place.
Werribee Districts leap-frogged two sides into second on the ladder after a 76-point thrashing of Altona at JK Grant Reserve.
In division 3, Sanctuary Lakes’ top-two ambitions took a hit with a 30-point loss to Laverton at Laverton Park; Tarneit had a 42-point win over Braybrook; and the Wyndham Suns were eclipsed by Albanvale.
