WEST Footscray coach Rohan MacKenzie has given his thumbs-up for future Anzac Day matches in the Western Region Football League.
His high-flying Roosters went into battle with Braybrook Bombers last Wednesday for a special one-off midweek game and returned richer for the experience after a 76-point win and a greater understanding of the Anzac spirit.
The Bombers marked the occasion with a moving rendition of the Last Post, a minute’s silence and a reading by a Vietnam veteran, and MacKenzie said the spirit of the day was embraced by all.
“I thought it was a good concept and it worked really well. We acknowledged the whole experience and the boys were excited to be part of it.”
The Roosters killed off the contest in a heartbeat. They bounced out of the gates for a 45 to 1 lead with the aid of a strong breeze at quarter-time, consolidated their lead in the second and broke the game wide open with an eight-goals-to-one blitz in the third.
Lindon Harris feasted on the scraps in the forward line to boot seven goals for the Roosters. He’s now booted 26 in four games to be the competition’s leading goalkicker.
Harris’s greatest strength is his ability to stay in a contest when the ball spills to the ground.
“He’s not so much a high flyer, but he’s good body on body,” MacKenzie said. “His second and third efforts are what really stand out at the moment. He’s getting a lot of snap goals from his tackling and hard workrate.”
The Roosters improved to 3-1 to sit second on the ladder, though MacKenzie acknowledges it could be a false picture with the three teams the Roosters have beaten occupying bottom-four positions after a month.
“There’s a buzz around the club at the moment. We’ve been winning, but we’ve played three bottom sides out of the four games so we can’t really judge how we’re going. The next month will tell a lot more about where we’re at.”
WRFL SCOREBOARD
Division 1
Albion 13.7 (85) lt Hoppers Crossing 16.19 (115) Albion: Goals: K Taylor, J Butina 3, S Stephens, T O’Brien 2, B Mesto, J Stephens, N Doherty Best: K Taylor, B Davis, S Stephens, J Butina, M Borg Hoppers Crossing: Goals: K Carey 4, S Downey, T Jehle 3, R Kitchen 2, A Ramsay, M Smith, J Ramsay, L Wilson Best: R Kitchen, M Smith, M Young, D Riosa, S Greenhough.
Altona 34.19 (223) d Sunshine Heights 4.3 (27) Altona: Goals: T Healy 6, Z Kadour 5, T Lunardi 4, S Mason, B Comeadow, R Miles, R Knight 3, L Spiteri 2, J Hevern, M Turnbull, J Halloran, T Andrews, B Miller Best: T Lunardi, L Spiteri, R Knight, J Hevern, B Shiels Sunshine Heights: Goals: S Montebello 2, R Greto, J Zahra Best: A Kyriakou, F Staffieri, N Mallia, R Greto, J Zahra, G Porter.
North Footscray 12.9 (81) lt Deer Park 19.22 (136) North Footscray: Goals: R Newton 5, C D’Altera 4, N Wilson, P MacZohan, M Aneet Best: R Newton, P Jackson, N Richardson, P MacZohan, R Davis, C D’Altera Deer Park: Goals: L Gestier 10, S Buttigieg-Clarke 2, K Klix, D Nelson, C Morrison, J Ryan, G Catterall, A Haddara, D Stevens Best: L Gestier, C Morrison, L Summers, B Foley, K Klix, T Henderson.
Spotswood 16.21 (117) d Sunshine 8.8 (56) Spotswood: Goals: J Cloke 4, L McGhie, T Langlands, B Perry 2, W Langlands, M Taylor, C O’Keefe, T Baker, M El-Hawli, C Morgan Best: L McGhie, J Audley, N Walters, T Baker, A Souki Sunshine: Goals: P Wiggins, C Connor 3, H Moloney, M Goring Best: H Moloney, A Bright, D Jacobs, J Koroneos, C Connor, L Hill.
St Albans 7.11 (53) lt Port Melbourne Colts 17.20 (122) Port Melbourne Colts: Goals: D McGregor 4, B Sutcliffe, C Brannan 3, J Perkins 2, J Wood, B Julier, C Urch, L Mildenhall, K Wilsmore Best: L Mildenhall, S Massis, K Wilsmore, C Doyle, B Perkins, B Julier.
Next round (Saturday): Altona v St Albans (Grant Reserve), Deer Park v Albion (John McLeod Oval), Hoppers Crossing v Sunshine Heights (Hogans Road Oval), Port Melbourne Colts v Spotswood (Murphy Reserve), Sunshine v North Footscray (Kinder Smith Reserve).
Division 2
Braybrook 9.6 (60) lt West Footscray 20.16 (136) Braybrook: Goals: J Mark, J Cameron, H Ashley 2, D Bryant, J Derich, T Reynolds Best: A Barbari, C Whelan, M Berecz, T Reynolds, D Burnside, H Ashley West Footscray: Goals: L Harris 7, A Batty, M Thomas, J Trowsdale 2, L Corless, N Burmeister, B Acreman, B Turner, A Jeffries, D Mason, M Nolton Best: M Thomas, B Turner, M Nolton, M Speakman, B Acreman, J Trowsdale.
Albanvale 10.14 (74) d Laverton 8.9 (57) Albanvale: Goals: D Azzopardi, J Sirianni 3, D Borg 2, B Cassar, N Cuthbertson Best: D Azzopardi, F Winmar, R Lever, B Cassar, J Brook, N Cuthbertson Laverton: Goals: A Jacobs 3, A Hanna 2, R Mulroy, A Driver, J Hodges Best: L Howard, J Whitling, C Jones, C Matcham, D Marin, P Fraczek.
Caroline Springs 4.6 (30) lt Yarraville-Seddon 20.17 (137) Caroline Springs: Goals: M Raak 2, S Mellon, D Ingram Best: C Bestall, D Cavanagh, L Jamieson, D Ingram, S Hepburn, M Jonas Yarraville-Seddon: Goals: M Volpi, S Mohamed, A Baker 4, J Harmes 3, M Hussey 2, C Thomas, B Guest, C Vincent Best: A Baker, B Guest, D Clemmens, C Wells, S Barry, G Jansz.
Coburg Districts 9.12 (66) lt Parkside 17.6 (108) Coburg Districts: Goals: L Vincitorio 4, J Scheriani 2, W Broad, R Elkins, D Piperno Best: N Moore, W Broad, J Galofaro, D Piperno, L Irons, L Johnson Parkside: Goals: B Ashman 4, R Ford 3, S Palazzolo 2, K Karavias, R Glavas, A Gervasi, N Juegan, A Lochart, M Chen, D McMahon, J Jamieson Best: R Ford, B Ashman, A Gervasi, D Vincent, S Palazzolo, T Badura.
Glenorden 7.8 (50) lt Wyndhamvale 10.11 (71) Glenorden: Goals: J MacDonald 2, R Bucktin, J Zangari, M Yates, J Fortune, S Rexhepi Best: T Angelini, J MacDonald, R Walker, T Johns, A Peters, N Addamo Wyndhamvale: Goals: C MacKey 3, D Bunworth 2, L Klein-Breteler, D Ellis, N Reschke, D Mashak, A Molivas Best: D Ellis, J Van Der Munnik, C Klein-Breteler, A Fleming, D Bunworth, D Mashak.
Next round (Saturday): Coburg Districts v Laverton (Cole Reserve), North Sunshine v Caroline Springs (Dempster Park), Parkside v Albanvale (Henry Turner Reserve), Wyndhamvale v Braybrook (Wyndhamvale Reserve), Yarraville-Seddon v Glenorden (Yarraville Oval).
