Deer Park is not willing to give an inch to Werribee Districts in the WRFL division 1.
The Lions have now won the past four encounters against the Tigers by an average 66 points. That number is inflated by last year’s 136-point mauling in the grand final, but Saturday’s 51-point margin at Soldiers Reserve shows a still-significant gulf between the top-of-the-ladder Lions and third-placed Tigers.
After a competitive opening quarter, Deer Park got on top with a five-goal-to-two second quarter to lead by 26 points at half-time.
A seven-goal third term put the game out of reach of Werribee Districts. The home side had no answers to Lions’ full-forward Brendan Fevola, who booted six goals and is beginning to make his mark on the competition.
The supporting cast was just as dangerous, with Kwame McHarg and Jase Perkins snaring three goals apiece. Lions forwards Perkins (47 goals), Fevola (44) and McHarg (25) have combined for 116 goals this season.
Rodney van Riet was best-on-ground on Saturday, while Jack Purton-Smith, Jackson Barling and Max Bruin won their positions. Despite the win, Deer Park dropped to second on percentage after Hoppers Crossing’s annihilation of Wyndhamvale.
In division 2, Albanvale refuses to give up on its finals dream. The Cobras were 81-point winners over bottom-of-the-ladder West Footscray at Robert Bruce Oval. Caroline Springs is still in the mix, the Lakers moving up to second after a 158-point win over Manor Lakes at Town Centre Oval. In division 3, North Sunshine may have avoided the wooden spoon after its third win of the campaign. The Roadrunners beat rivals Braybrook by a point at Dempster Park.
Sunshine Heights came back from 25 points down at quarter-time to defeat Tarneit by 15 at Ainsworth Reserve.
