Yarraville-Seddon was back to its brutal best – well, for three quarters at least – in the Western Region Football League division 2 on Saturday.
The Eagles withstood an early challenge from Albanvale before powering away to a 141-point win at Robert Bruce Reserve.
After leading by a point at quarter time, the Eagles incredibly out-scored the Cobras 141 to one in the remaining three quarters, restricting the Cobras to a single behind, scored in the third quarter.
Eagles coach Dean Callaway had let his charges know of his displeasure with a sloppy first quarter.
“I gave them a rocket at quarter time, told them some home truths,” he said.
Yarraville-Seddon was expected to be a serious premiership contender this season.
In a six-team competition, it is clearly the second-best team, but it remains to be seen if it can it bridge the gap to front-runner North Footscray.
Some are doubting whether North Footscray can be caught – a clear slight on Yarraville-Seddon.
If there were any doubts about the Eagles’ credentials, they were dispelled in the assault on Albanvale.
Callaway saw his side produce arguably its best team performance of the season.
“It was all team-oriented stuff from us,” he said of the final three quarters. “We played unselfish footy, our intensity and our pressure was up and we had more direction and composure.”
Macauley Goring was the leader of the pack for Yarraville-Seddon, providing vital direction after the slow start.
“It’s just his voice, his leadership and his hardness at the contest,” Callaway said. “He played in the middle, went forward and he brought a lot.”
Lachlan Huell shone with three goals in his senior debut, while Matthew Sparks, also in first senior game for the club, and Patrick Hynes, elevated, from the reserves for his first senior game of the year, were outstanding.
Yarraville-Seddon remains a game back from North Footscray, but three games and a mass of percentage clear of third-placed Manor Lakes.
The Eagles will host West Footscray at the Yarraville Oval on Saturday.
West Footscray notched its first win of the season over Newport Power at Shorten Reserve on Saturday.
The Roosters came from eight points down at three-quarter time to storm to a 30-point win after a remarkable seven-goal-to-one last quarter.
Kyle Forge and Henry Hollingworth (three goals) were stand-outs for the Roosters.
North Footscray had a comfortable 94-point win over Manor Lakes at Howqua Reserve. Devils forward Jason Butty kicked 11 goals.
In division 1, Altona made light work of St Albans, winning by 65 points at Grant Reserve. The Vikings, who needed to win to keep hold of their spot in the top five, kicked 13 goals to four after quarter-time, including four to Mitch Turnbull.
Spotswood was made to work most of the way by a Brian Lake-led Caroline Springs at McLean Reserve, but still came away with a 73-point win.
The Woodsmen only led by 22 points at three-quarter time, but piled on nine goals to one in the last quarter.
Four Woodsmen – Stephen Syme, Mitchell McLean, Dylan Callard and James Beilby – kicked three goals apiece for Spotswood.
In division 3, Braybrook produced a better showing than in its pre-Queen’s Birthday form, but still went down to North Sunshine by 15 points at Dempster Park.
Parkside had to dig deep to shrug off a plucky Sunshine Heights by 24 points, while Laverton copped a 144-point hiding from Wyndham Suns at Goddard Street Reserve.
