When you’re 8-0 with a sky-high percentage, you welcome a rare challenge instead of a routine triple-figure thumping.
But for Westbourne Grammarians, win number nine was a little too close for comfort.
The Warriors kept the winning streak intact and the quest for an undefeated season on track with a nervous nine-point win over local rivals Point Cook in the division 4 of the VAFA at Saltwater Reserve on Saturday.
“We’re in the bottom division of the VAFA … some sides are trying to rebuild and top sides are pushing for the next division,” Warriors playing assistant coach Justin Johns told Star Weekly.
“It was good to come up against another strong outfit and get a really good hit-out at this time of the year.
“They definitely threw everything at us and it was just a genuinely good game of footy.”
It turned into a low-scoring struggle between the top-two sides and a potential a grand final preview.
Westbourne had its nose in front for most of the game until the Bulldogs hit the lead late on.
But the Warriors found a way to get the win and open up a two-game and percentage break over their opposition.
“We could’ve easily laid down and let them run away with it,” Johns said.
“To the boys’ credit, they fought hard and got us back in front.”
Westbourne had nine more scoring shots for a return of nine more behinds, but rather than lamenting poor kicking in front of goal, Johns praised Point Cook’s defence.
“They put the pressure on right to the end,” he said.
It was the same at the other end. Point Cook had a similar amount of attack, but could not kick a winning score because of the defensive work of the Warriors’ back six.
Will Dawson kicked four goals for Point Cook but his direct opponent, Adam Rompel, was singled out for praise on the Warriors’ side.
Dawson is the competition’s leading goalkicker and could have been a match winner for Point Cook.
“Dawson’s a big strong body but ‘Romp’ held his own,” Johns said. “He use his body really well in the one-on-ones.”
Daniel Stoios had a profound impact on the game at centre halfback for the Warriors, taking a number of intercept marks at crucial times to stifle the delivery to Dawson.
Ben Johnson bobbed up for two big goals and was equally as useful in his defensive endeavours across half forward.
After Westbourne took care of second-placed Point Cook, the rest of the competition must be asking, are we just playing for second now?
