Tara Murray
Sunshine Heights continue to show positive signs in the Western Football League division 2 competition as it comes from a long way back.
After a less than ideal off season. which included a coach change over the Christmas period, the Dragons have shown some positive signs the first couple of weeks against some strong sides.
On Saturday, the Dragons were able to put it together for longer to come away with their first win of the season, beating Tarneit, 19.22 (136)-5.9 (39).
Dragons coach Stephen O’Malley said it was a good performance by his group.
“We’d had some good sides the last couple of weeks and we’d been working on structures and it all came together yesterday [Saturday],” he said.
“We had some good patches of play and a lot of good scoring opportunities.”
The Dragons kicked out to an early 28 point lead before a five goal to nil second quarter meant it was game over at half time.
The Dragons finished strongly with eight goals to three in the second half to seal the strong performance.
Tito Nyawela kicked nine goals in a best on ground performance, while Bol Wol, who kicked three goals, and Massimo Sergio were other standouts.
O’Malley said while it had been tough playing some of the good sides early on, it had been a good test for the team.
This season the division 2 and 3 competitions have come together, meaning a greater level of competition and some one-sided results.
“We saw how we played against the good sides and we saw how the structures stuck up,” O’Malley said.
“The margins weren’t what we wanted them to be, but the matches showed that our system can hold up.”
The tests don’t get any easier for the Dragons who faced Newport and Albion the next two rounds. Both sides played division 2 finals last season.
O’Malley says they are keeping the focus simple.
“We take it one week at a time and we just have to adjust each week,” he said. “We’re still a couple of months behind where we want to be.
“We’re improving every week and are getting better and better. We’re getting fitter as well and we will get there.”
In other results, Sunshine and Albion both had big wins on Anzac Day.
The Kangaroos beat North Footscray, 29.16 (190)-3.4 (22), while Albion beat Braybrook, 18.22 (130)-5.3 (33).
On Saturday, Albanvale beat West Footscray, 13.16 (94)-11.18 (84), while North Sunshine lost to Newport, 23.25 (163)-0.6 (6).
In division 1, Caroline Springs beat Parkside.
