GLENORDEN coach Nick Diker is fully aware of the threat local rival Wyndhamvale poses in the Western Region Football League division 2.
Diker, the second-year coach heading up what could be a rags to riches story, prepared the undefeated Hawks for last Saturday’s Wyndham derby like no other game this season.
All coaching resources were exhausted, and the players delivered to record a hard-fought 21-point win on the road at Wyndhamvale Reserve.
“We’ve got the utmost respect for Wyndhamvale,” Diker said. “Going into the game, I did a lot of homework on them.
“To be honest, we probably spent a couple of weeks on them, just sussing them out and sending guys out to find out what they can do.”
The Hawks reaped the rewards of their collective efforts.
They made it 13 straight wins, beat Wyndhamvale for a second time this season and moved closer to clinching the minor premiership.
“I’ll take the result – we’re happy to go 13-0,” he said.
“We’ve beaten Wyndhamvale twice, beaten them away – it’s something that we haven’t done for probably 15 to 20 years.
“To beat Wyndhamvale at Wyndhamvale in front of a hostile crowd was fantastic.”
The Hawks’ experience counted at the pointy end of the match.
Peter Krueger, Ben Stornebrink and four-goal forward Damien Yze refused to be beaten.
Yze’s game-clinching goal, 40 metres out in driving rain, went some way to vindicating Diker’s decision to add a veteran element to the group in the off-season.
“Where I needed experience in the second half, those boys just stood up,” Diker said. “They were hard, they were tough at the footy.”
Dash Barolli, one of the leading contenders for the league’s best and fairest, filed another best-on-ground performance.
Wyndhamvale remains fourth on the ladder and faces a frantic five weeks to make a late run for a double chance.
Thomas Westhead and three-goal forward Nathan Evans impressed for the Falcons, but seven goals is never going to result in four premiership points against a title contender.
The Hawks will host Parkside in a top-of-the-table clash at Heathdale Oval on Saturday, while the Falcons will visit lowly West Footscray.
