Tarneit has sent a reminder that its best football is good enough to match it with the top sides in the Western Region Football League division 3.
The timing was perfect for the Titans to get the scalp they have so long desired, taking down neighbours Wyndham Suns by 45 points in the local derby at Wootten Road Reserve on Saturday.
Titans football manager Adam Taylor said it was always sweet to beat the Suns, but the four premiership points were the sole focus for a side that wants to remain in the hunt for a top-two finish.
“Yeah, the rivalry is there,” he said.
“You can’t deny there is a will to win against a side that is only two or three kilometres away.
“Really today was just about getting a good win against a top side.”
Tarneit has been a flat track bully this season.
The Titans record against the other top four teams – ladder-leader Parkside, Wyndham Suns and Sunshine Heights – was a dismal 1-3 before the weekend.
Their only victory against big four opposition came against Sunshine Heights back in round one in a game that was called off after half-time because of lightning.
But Saturday’s win over Wyndham, the form team of the competition, was full of merit.
Tarneit went into the last quarter trailing by five points, having scored a solitary behind in the third quarter, but produced a scintillating eight-goal-to-nil last term to run out big winners.
“I think it was our best quarter for the year,” Taylor said.
“It really kicked in some self belief and confidence, which has been lacking.
“A quarter like that shows we can do it against good sides.”
Thomas Robinson kicked four goals for Tarneit.
The Titans’ inaugural senior best-and-fairest is being rewarded in recent times for the loyalty he showed the club when they were regularly getting beaten by triple figure margins in their first season.
“It’s good to see he’s playing well and we’re going quite strong as well after going through the heartache of those initial years, which included 30-goal thumpings,” Taylor said.
Beau Bostock finished with three goals, including two crucial goals in the last quarter. Josh Foster was named best-on-ground for his work in a key defensive post.
If Tarneit – a game and a half behind second-placed Wyndham – is to break into the top two, it can ill afford any slip-ups in the remaining five rounds.
The Titans have a tough fortnight of away games ahead, facing fifth-placed North Sunshine at Dempster Park on Saturday, followed by fourth-ranked Sunshine Heights at Ainsworth Reserve.
In division 1, Werribee Districts face an uphill task of securing a finals double chance after Altona mauled it by 55 points at Soldiers Reserve on Saturday.
Three goals to Bailey Siwek and two to Ryan Harrington aside, the Tigers did not have the firepower to match the Vikings on a disappointing day.
Hoppers Crossing had it all its own way in an 87-point thrashing of Caroline Springs on a day when Jordan Mead booted 10 goals for the winners.
Wyndhamvale went down to Deer Park by 162 points at John McLeod Oval as the gulf between the top and bottom sides was exposed.
