KEILOR coach Mick McGuane says the club is in control of its own destiny after a 42-point loss to Airport West put the Blues two games out of the Essendon District Football League top six.
At the halfway point of the season, Keilor has a 3-6 record, with games against three of the top four in the next month. Its three wins have come against the bottom three.
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Keilor was in touch with Airport West for three quarters on Saturday, but it couldn’t match the Eagles in the last term, managing just two goals as Airport West slammed home seven.
Marcus Kenny proved the difference between the two sides, the key forward getting his second nine-goal haul of the year for the Eagles.
It was a shoot-out right from the beginning, with Airport West taking a 12-point lead at the first break with seven goals to five.
The Eagles marginally increased their lead in a relatively even second term, leading by 16 points at half-time.
The Blues breathed new life into the contest in the third quarter to close within 11 points but the game fizzled out in the final term as Airport West took control. “We’ve got to start stringing wins together, and that’s something we’ve failed to do all season,” said McGuane.
“We were really hamstrung. Andrew Browne had to play out of the goalsquare because he couldn’t move, but we had our chances.
‘‘We were sloppy between the arcs too much, which exposed our back half.”
McGuane said they were power- less to stop Kenny. “We tried everything but the service he got was very good. He was a focal point.
‘‘On a small ground, it’s one kick out of the centre bounce, and he played in front. He was the difference between us winning and losing in the end.”
In division one, Taylors Lakes further improved its percentage with a thumping 112-point win over Westmeadows. The Lions had 12 individual goalkickers and are now second on the ladder with a 7-2 record.
In division two, Keilor Park leapfrogged East Keilor into third place, the Devils beating the Cougars by 11 points. Hillside regained top spot with a massive 191-point win over East Sunbury.