By Tara Murray
Hillside kept its finals hopes in its own hands with an upset win against Airport West in Essendon District Football League division 1.
Following some strong performances against some of the top sides in recent weeks, the Sharks put it all together on Saturday.
There wasn’t much in it in the first half, before the Sharks put the burners on in the third quarter to open up a 33-point lead at the last break.
It was a dour last quarter, but it didn’t matter, the Sharks had done enough to win, 13.13 (91)-8.10 (58).
Sharks football manager Darren Mantynen said they had been building to this performance in recent weeks.
“We’ve got a few players back and there’s only about two players out of the best 22.
“A loss here and it would have been pretty difficult.
“We pretty much controlled the game all day with our pressure. They got lucky with a few goals. Our third quarter was really good.”
Jordan Sinclair and Mitchell Church kicked three goals each for the Sharks.
Mantynen said Victor Micallef and Jeremy Hayes were among the standouts, along with Joel Bonnici.
Bonnici had the job on Eagles star Tyson Young and restricted him to two goals and kicked one of his own.
Mantynen said they were really starting to find a spread of goalkickers, meaning they weren’t relying on Church and Brandon Coletta. Coletta, who hasn’t played for three weeks, is out with a knee injury.
Mantynen said Coletta would be touch-and-go to be back for finals.
The win was the Sharks’ first against a top-three side this season.
However, they remain in fifth spot, two points outside the top four.
Mantynen said if they can win their remaining two games against East Keilor and Jacana they should be in a good spot heading into a final round bye.
After missing out on finals a couple of years ago when they needed results to go their way in a final round bye, they’re keen for it not to happen again.
“If we win the next two, it hopefully secures us a spot in the top four,” Mantynen said.
“We’ve hit form at the right time of the year and hopefully we can do what Airport West did last season and come from fourth and play in a grand final.
“The focus is winning the next two games.”
In division 2, Burnside Heights lost to Moonee Valley, 26.16 (172)-13.7 (85).
The Fog blew the game open in the second quarter with six goals to two and then continued that in the second half.
Josh Covelli, who headlined a number of Bears players who re-signed during the week, kicked six goals.
