ALTONA has taken its supporters on a rollercoaster ride in the Bowls Victoria premier division.
The A’s were one of the preseason title fancies but seldom hit peak form.
Victories in their last three matches ensured the A’s would be part of the March finals action, but they have been far from convincing to this point.
A solid 98-72 win over Essendon on the road at Windy Hill on Saturday sewed up third place.
“We’re a bit of an enigma,” A’s skip Brett Dodd says. “We’ve definitely under-achieved at this stage, but we’re still alive. I said to the guys today, you make your own history from here on in.”
The A’s’ up-and-down form line is enough to give you motion sickness.
They’ve enjoyed some stunning wins and some humbling losses.
A month ago, they lost to wooden-spooner Lalor, a result that left them outside the top four.
Dodd said it was a reflection of the competition’s strength and the inability of his side to get into first gear.
“You’ve just got to look at the ladder. The sides that got relegated won five and six games and they’re all good sides,” he said. “I knew going in this year, it’s probably the strongest it’s been and that’s how it’s turned out.
“And I don’t think we’ve played our best bowls all year.”
The question is whether the A’s’ best is good enough to topple front-runners Melbourne and Moonee Ponds.
The top two have been a long way in front and their shot difference has dwarfed that of the other eight clubs.
Dodd is optimistic. “If we can bring our best, we think we can beat the best. It’s up to us to rise to the occasion.”
The A’s meet Bundoora RSL, a team they beat twice during the home and away rounds, in a cut-throat semi-final on Saturday.
Premier division: Essendon 2-72 Altona 16-98
Division 1: Kingsbury 2-76 Yarraville/Footscray 16-92; Glenroy 4-80 Footscray Park Rosamond 14-86
Division 2: Williamstown 2-76
Sunbury 16-101
Division 3: Footscray Park
Rosamond 2 2-56 Newport 16-93
Division 4: Sunbury 3 16-77
Laverton 2-73
Division 5: Altona North 14-83
Sunshine RSL 2 4-68
