Wyndham’s top-flight Western Region Football League copped a triple whammy on Saturday.
Hoppers Crossing, Werribee Districts and Wyndhamvale suffered heavy defeats on a bleak weekend for the local sides.
For Hoppers Crossing, a 55-point loss to four-peat premier Deer Park at John McLeod Oval proved costly, as it dropped out of the top three.
The Warriors gave up a 50-point headstart to the Lions on a windswept day when the toss was all important and never recovered.
With three rounds to go, the Warriors can still overtake third-placed Sunshine Kangaroos, who they trail for a double chance position on percentage. But they cannot afford another slip up, making Saturday’s home game against second-placed Spotswood a must-win.
Werribee Districts could be out of the top five by Saturday night.
The Tigers’ hold on fifth spot weakened significantly following a 47-point loss to Sunshine Kangaroos at Kinder Smith Reserve.
With sixth-placed Altona visiting bottom-of-the-ladder Wyndhamvale this Saturday and Werribee Districts having to host league leader Deer Park at Soldiers Reserve, the prospects of the Tigers keeping hold of their place in the top five are not good.
Wyndhamvale suffered a 44-point loss to Albion at JR Parsons Reserve. The Falcons have three rounds to make up a game and percentage on second-last Caroline Springs, otherwise the wooden spoon is heading their way.
In division 2, Manor Lakes has impressed in recent times, but Saturday’s 49-point loss to premiership favourite North Footscray at Hansen Reserve showed there is still a gap between the best and the rest.
Manor Lakes will entertain Newport Power at Howqua Reserve on Saturday.
In division 3, Wyndham Suns piled on the goals in a 123-point annihilation of Braybrook at Pennell Reserve.
The Suns can seal a top two finish when they host cellar dweller Laverton at Goddard Street Reserve on Saturday.
Tarneit’s double chance hopes were all but extinguished in a 17-point loss to Sunshine Heights at Ainsworth Reserve.
Lowly Sanctuary Lakes mounted a late comeback, but went down by 10 points to North Sunshine at Featherbrook Reserve.
In the VAFA division 3, Westbourne Grammarians all but stamped their ticket to the finals with a 44-point win over Richmond Central at the Westbourne School Ground.
Agon Bahtiri kicked three goals for the Warriors on a day when goals were hard to come by.
Point Cook is slowly slipping out of finals contention. It suffered a nine-point loss to Power House at Saltwater Reserve, leaving it down in eighth spot.
The Bulldogs will need to get back on track with a victory away to the winless South Melbourne Districts on Saturday, while it will be all about maintaining the rage for Westbourne when it visits Swinburne University in a third-versus-fourth showdown.
