Lachlan Baddley kicked seven goals as St Albans came from behind to beat Spotswood in Western Region Football League division 1 on Saturday.
The Saints began the better of the two sides to take a 26-point lead into the first break, before the Woodsmen hit back in the middle of the game.
In a high-scoring final term, the Saints kicked seven goals to four to win 18.10 (118) to 15.17 (107) at Kings Park Reserve.
PICTURE GALLERY: St Albans v Spotswood
Saints coach Marcus Barclay said the aim at the start of the game was to capitalise on the fact that Spotswood had the week off.
“We thought perhaps they would not be as ready as we would be,” he said.
“We jumped the gun early and they made a comeback in the second term.
“I thought the approach on the ball in the first term was good and we made them chase.
“They then stepped up in the middle part of the game, which good teams do.”
Barclay was unsure how his team would run out the game, with rotations limited by injuries.
“It made it difficult to rotate and our midfielders played the whole second half,” he said.
“Our ruckman hurt his shoulder and couldn’t lift his arm properly.
“Both teams wanted to get the win in the final term and it was quite frantic and fast-paced and everyone wanted a kick.”
Baddley won the inaugural Gallipoli medal for best on ground with seven goals.
The win puts the Saints on two wins and two losses after four games, a start Barclay said he would have taken before the season began.
The Saints next face Yarraville-Seddon at Yarraville Oval on Saturday.
In other division 1 matches last Saturday, Werribee Districts beat Sunshine 12.17 (89) to 7.14 (56), while in division 2, Braybrook got its first win of the season by beating Albanvale 12.13 (85) to 12.10 (82).
North Sunshine and Caroline Springs were on the receiving end of big losses.
North lost 38.15 (243) to 7.4 (46) against Glenorden and Springs lost be 57 against North Footscray.
