Sunshine Kangaroos could not afford to dwell on its 14-point loss to Hoppers Crossing in the Western Region Football League division 1 at Hogans Road Reserve on Saturday.
The Kangaroos had to move on quickly with a must-win game against fellow double chance hunters Werribee Districts on the horizon at Kinder Smith Reserve this Saturday.
Kangaroos coach Brendan Hallinan sensed a levelheadedness about his group following the tight loss to Hoppers.
“The confidence was still really high after the game despite the loss,” Hallinan said.
“You don’t like losing, but, at the same time, you take the learning out of these games.
“Our boys will reflect on it and we will get ready for next week. We know what’s ahead of us.”
If there was one that Sunshine could erase from the memory, it was Saturday’s scrappy affair.
Both sides struggled in terribly windy conditions with a mere 14 goals kicked between them – eight to Hoppers and six to Sunshine.
Hoppers Crossing was the better side in the crucial moments, a point that Hallinan conceded after the game.
Aside from that, it was two teams that were pretty ferocious at the contest, but never really threatened to run up a big score because of the conditions and the strength of both defences.
“It wasn’t a good spectacle, that’s for sure,” Hallinan said.
“The wind blew a gust down there and it didn’t make it easy.”
Sunshine suffered a blow before the game when onballer Nathan Lyons was ruled out with sickness.
Matthew Hutchesson, Hayden Moloney and Ben McInneny were praised for picking up the slack.
Lyons is almost certain to return for Saturday’s big game against Werribee Districts. That game is billed as a must-win for both clubs if they want to keep their double chance.
They are both on nine wins, one game behind current third-placed Hoppers Crossing.
“There’s a lot on the line in relation to that third spot,” Hallinan said.
“Lose it and you’re probably looking at fourth or fifth because it will be hard to secure that third spot then.”
Albion can book its end-of-season trip because its slim hopes of making the finals ended with a one-point loss to Altona at JR Parsons Reserve.
The Cats trailed by 30 points at half-time, but launched a comeback with six goals to one in the second half to almost claim victory.
The defeat has left the Cats four games and a large wad of percentage out of the five with just four games left.
Deer Park moved a step closer to the minor premiership with a 25-point win over St Albans at Kings Park Reserve.
Caroline Springs went down by 31 points to an inaccurate Werribee Districts at Soldiers Reserve.
In division 2, Albanvale’s grip on fourth spot has loosened after a fifth straight loss. The Cobras went down by 12 points to an improving West Footscray at Robert Bruce Oval.
In division 3, Sunshine Heights made it three wins on the trot, hammering Laverton Magpies by 99 points away at Laverton Park.
The Dragons were exhilarating in the second quarter, kicking 11 unanswered goals to set up their big win.
North Sunshine put up a strong showing against in-form Tarneit, losing by just 10 points at Dempster Park.
