GLENORDEN has struck the first blow of the season in its fierce local rivalry with Wyndhamvale in the Western Region Football League division 2.
The two Wyndham outfits are tipped to challenge for the flag and their clashes could offer an insight into what’s to come in September.
CLICK HERE for our picture gallery of the Glenorden v Wyndhamvale match.
It is only round two, but the Hawks are treating it as an important result, because of the quality of opposition and the potential for it to be an eight-point game.
“We’ve got a massive respect for Wyndhamvale,” Hawks assistant coach Stuart Daly told the Weekly.
“They’re a great football side. Their structure, their game plan is fantastic.
“It’s a great feeling around the club at the moment.”
It was the Falcons who settled the better to lead by 11 points at quarter-time.
Josh Van Der Munnik, Daniel Bunworth and Nathan Evans were threatening to get off the leash.
But the Hawks steadied with a dominant six-goal-to-one second term and never looked back.
In fact, they restricted the visitors to just five goals over the last three quarters.
The defence, led by Daniel Lee, Liam Sabri and Nathan Schmidt, not only stifled the Falcons attack, but offered a springboard out of defensive 50 to set up their own attacking moves.
“Our win today is testament to the back six,” Daly said. “Our backline were sensational.”
“We tried to recruit hard-running defenders and that really came to the fore today.
“We identified late last year that it was probably our deficiency, so it was great to have the luxury to be able to take the game on.”
Dash Barolli was undisputed best on ground for the second week running.
With a full off-season program successfully completed, the onballer’s work rate is proving hard to surpass.
“His work ethic is enormous, he’s in everything,” Daly said.
“Last year, he started off playing in Shepparton and had a limited preparation due to a hamstring injury.
“This year, he done a full pre-season and we’re getting the rewards.”
Damien Yze made a speedy recovery from a dislocated thumb to boot seven goals for the Hawks.
Tristan Angelini’s forward pressure was a feature. When the game was on the line in the last term, Marc Yates was the Hawks’ go-to man.
“His last quarter was absolutely sensational,” Daly said. “When we first came to this club, we identified him as a key player.
“For him to stand up today, against arguably the best team and what we see as the premiership favourites, under that pressure with eight marks in the last quarter across half-forward was just sensational.”
WRFL DIVISION 2 SCORES
Glenorden 15.13 (103) d Wyndhamvale 9.12 (66). Goals – Glenorden: Yze 7, Fortune 3, Zangari 2, Edwards, Barolli, Angelini. Wyndhamvale: Evans, Molivas 2, Junker, Westhead, Bunworth, Holman, Beazley. Best – Glenorden: Barolli, Sabri, Stornebrink, Yze, Lee, Bektash. Wyndhamvale: Van Der Munnik, Bunworth, Evans, Vasiliou, Barillaro, Junker.
Sanctuary Lakes 21.8 (134) lt Albanvale 26.14 (170). Sanctuary Lakes – goals: Zurek 8, Foley 4, Marlais, Lampi, Hyde 2, Hutcheson, MacArtney, Dinan. Best: Foley, Marlais, Dinan, Zurek, Lampi.
North Sunshine 10.6 (66) lt Manor Lakes 28.21 (189). Manor Lakes – goals: Priest 8, Smithwick 5, Pavez, Gebbie 3, Montague, Hunter, Heyde 2, Hunter, Riches, Palmer. Best: Pavez, Hunter, Heyde, Callanan, Palmer, Gebbie.
Around the grounds: Laverton Magpies 12.5 (77) lt West Footscray 13.14 (92); Caroline Springs 6.8 (44) lt Parkside 22.12 (144); Braybrook 14.13 (97) lt Sunshine Heights 18.13 (121).
Next round: Albanvale v Braybrook, Manor Lakes v Sanctuary Lakes, North Sunshine v Laverton, Sunshine Heights v Caroline Springs, Wyndhamvale v West Footscray.
