GLENORDEN withstood everything that mother nature and a well-coached Sunshine Heights could throw at it in maintaining its flawless Western Region Football League division 2 record.
The Hawks made it four wins from four to start the season, but it was far from their smoothest as they negotiated a way around tricky cross winds, a defence-minded visitor and their own goalkicking yips.
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“It was one of those really tough days of footy,” Hawks coach Nick Diker told the Weekly.
“The conditions were terrible, it was blowing an absolute gale, there was a cross wind at our ground and it was impossible to kick towards one end of the ground all day.
“I knew they [Sunshine Heights] weren’t going to be an easy target, they come to play and they were well coached, so I’m happy to get away with it. I’m more than happy with the result.”
Bit by bit, Glenorden extended its lead. From nine points up at quarter-time to 18 at the half, the Hawks tacked on a couple of extra goals breathing space in each of the last two quarters for a comfortable 36-point win.
The Heights insisted on their defensive approach, attacking the dead side for the most part and playing a loose man in defence until late in the last quarter, tactics that would limit the damage but fail to threaten. “With about five minutes to go, that’s when they released the loose man in defence, but it was too late,” Diker said.
Damien Yze was so good in attack for the Hawks, but the veteran did not cash in. From Yze’s 14 scoring shots, he goaled just four times.
Stefan Angelini was impregnable in the back half. Not only did he beat his direct opponent, he racked up in excess of 30 possessions.
Jesse Fortune was another to pick up big stats, doing his best work on the ball. Josh MacDonald, who has suffered with a back injury, moved freely to break a tag.
WRFL SCORES
Division 1
Around the grounds: Albion 7.11 (53) lt Spotswood 17.20 (122); Altona 25.22 (172) d North Footscray 1.1 (7); Sunshine 10.12 (72) lt Deer Park 16.14 (110); Yarraville-Seddon 11.9 (75) lt Port Melbourne Colts 15.10 (100).
Next round: Deer Park v Altona, Hoppers Crossing v Yarraville-Seddon, Spotswood v St Albans, Port Melbourne Colts v Sunshine, North Footscray v Albion.
Division 2
Braybrook 11.12 (78) lt Manor Lakes 34.11 (215). Manor Lakes – goals: T. Priest 14, S. Gebbie 3, J. Callanan, N. Smithwick, S. Gill, N. Montague 3, C. Hunter 2, F. Pavez, J. Derich, B. Turner. Best: H. Templeton, C. Baker, J. Callanan, C. Wright, N. Smithwick, T. Priest.
Glenorden 11.17 (83) d Sunshine Heights 7.5 (47). Glenorden – goals: D. Yze 4, J. MacDonald, M. Yates 2, M. Antonello, J. Huxtable, J. Fortune. Best: S. Angelini, J. Fortune, J. MacDonald, J. Storey, L. Sabri, M. Palma.
Sanctuary Lakes 28.19 (187) d North Sunshine 5.5 (35). Sanctuary Lakes – goals: M. Davis, M. Zurek 6, J. Marlais 4, D. Hutcheson, J. Rogers 3, J. Lampi 2, T. Hutcheson, J. Lampi, P. Sayakhot, W. Dinan. Best: J. Lampi, W. Dinan, J. Lampi, S. Krpan, J. Marlais, M. Casey.
Around the grounds: Caroline Springs 10.16 (76) d Albanvale 2.8 (20); Parkside 24.19 (163) d West Footscray 2.4 (16); Laverton 2.6 (18) lt Wyndhamvale 26.28 (184).
