Spotswood has been a big tease in the opening three rounds of the Western Region Football League division 1 season.
There have been moments when the Woodsmen of old have come out with the breathtaking football we have come to know and love over the years.
Then, lurking, are less certain times, when you are forced to remind yourself that this is 2015 and the Woodsmen of that famous premiership era are not in the present tense.
It’s still too early to get a gauge where the two-faced Woodsmen sit in the pecking order this season. The much-anticipated showdown against an improving Hoppers Crossing at McLean Reserve on Saturday will be a good litmus test.
You get the sense even Woodsmen’ player-coach Tom Langlands is trying to find out more about his side. The past fortnight has been underlined by confusion. Two games marked down as comfortable wins have been anything but as the Woodsmen have run hot and cold.
They overcame a hefty deficit at home to beat St Albans then nearly shot themselves in the foot during Saturday’s 40-point win over Port Melbourne Colts at JL Murphy Reserve.
“We didn’t capitalise on our opportunities and again our skill errors let us down,” Langlands told Star Weekly of the Anzac Day win.
“It’s definitely a recurring theme for us. It was nice in the end to put the foot down and run over the top of them,” he said.
The Woodsmen watched their 23-point three-quarter time lead trimmed back to two goals early in the fourth quarter, but they maintained attacking intent and ran away with a somewhat flattering percentage-boosting win.
Murray Boyd and Lachlan Fairley were the catalysts for the Woodsmen late in the game. The talls moved forward to provide aerial targets and posed match-up problems for the Colts’ defenders with their athleticism.
Boyd booted four goals and Fairley chipped in with two. David Iaccarino did what he does best, accumulating from the midfield, and was the driving force.
Nathan Dumbleton was lively inside forward 50, with three goals.
The wildcard was rookie Bryce Williams; add this name to the list of players to watch.
“He was impressive,” Langlands said. “He set us up a few times out of our backline. He was the captain of the under-18s last year and has managed to string three games in a row in the seniors.”
Meanwhile, Altona Vikings were second-best all day against St Albans, losing by 44 points at Kings Park Reserve. The Vikings could manage
only five goals for the game as wayward kicking for goal hurt.
In division 2, West Footscray won the local derby by 30 points over North Footscray at Shorten Reserve.
Asher Kirk was the stand-out for the Roosters, while Munir El Houli jagged four goals.
Yarraville-Seddon claimed its first win of the season, by 55 points over Glenorden.
