Harper Sercombe
Goal scoring superpower Daniel Hovey notched up his 100th goal for the Western Region Football League division 3 season.
The Suns star forward has been in scintillating form right throughout the year, including four seven goal hauls, three six goal bags, an eight goal game and the best of the lot a 26 goal feast against North Sunshine back in round two.
Coach and forward partner Dean Cachia, who kicked 100 goals last season, said it was a fantastic achievement and celebration for the goal kicker.
“It was a great milestone for him,” Cachia said.
“I think on the day he was a little bit nervous to get it done, we still had North Sunshine and then finals to come but we wanted him to get it yesterday, against Albanvale, one of our main rivals.
“The whole team had a great game yesterday and it was good for him to get his 100th goal.”
Not only rivals to the Suns but the Cobras are also placed second on the ladder, and were shaping as a threat to the Suns come finals.
But the Suns proved once again that they are the team to beat in division 3, passing the Cobras with ease. The game was over by three quarter time, with the Cobras only booting two goals by that stage to trail the Suns by 107 points.
The Cobras attempted to crawl their way back in the last but it was all too little too late, losing 23.15 (153)-9.8 (62). Hovey kicked six, while Cachia booted eight.
With a game still to play in the home and away season, it is now a certainty that the teams will face each other in the first round of finals, where the winner will head straight to the grand final.
“We went to play yesterday and executed as best as we could,” Cachia said.
“I think a lot of things sort of fell our way and the game ended up just going one way, they won the last quarter pretty convincingly.
“But we’re very happy with how it went, but we know you can’t be getting ahead of yourself because last year at the same time we were beating our opposition the same way and we lost the grand final.
“We need to stay focused and just be doing all the right things at training and buying in for the team and playing our roles.
“[On Saturday] we played fantastic football, but when we play them in that first final, it’s a new day and anything can happen.”
With bottom side North Sunshine on the weekend and top spot secured, Cachia said they have already started to prepare for the finals, taking no risks with players who are carrying injuries.
