Western Suburbs have secured its spot in the FV state league 1 north-west competition for next season.
With not much between the top and bottom sides this season, ensuring that the side was out of the danger zone was important for Western Suburbs.
Western Suburbs committee member and reserves coach Sasha Pete said it was nice to have their spot locked in for next season with four rounds remaining.
“We’re very pleased,” he said. “It goes to show how tight the league is. A couple more wins and we would be pushing for the promotion race.
“It’s a tough league but we’re definitely matchetically safe.”
After 18 rounds, Western Suburbs sits seventh on the ladder on 25 points. Ladder leaders Banyule City are on 34, while they are just 10 points clear of ninth spot.
Pete said with sides below them facing each other in the final few rounds it means they won’t slip into the bottom two, who will be relegated.
With the closeness of the competition, Pete said there is a little bit of what might have been this season.
“If we could have turned three of those losses into wins we would be in the title race,” he said.
“But we’re definitely safe and we can enjoy the rest of the season without the pressure on us being related.
“We’ll look to blood some more reserves players. They are second on the ladder and likely to take the runner up place there.
“It’s been really good for us.”
There was a bye on the weekend for the three cup finals and catch up rounds.
Pete said it came at a good time for the group.
“We have a lot of niggles and injuries and it gives them an extra week rest to allow the players to be ready come the Clifton Hill game at home,” he said.
Having found a good rhythm the last few years on and off the field, Pete said they wanted to continue to grow the club that is in its 60th year.
“We have stabilised the club and the question is now how do you grow the culture and club even more,” he said.
“We are really proud of what we’ve been able to do. Only four years ago we had no junior teams.
“We have eight and we have a girls team. The atmosphere at the club is growing as is the community.”
In other matches in state league 1 north-west this coming weekend, Keilor Park hosts the Brimbank Stallions, Sydenham Park plays Westvale Olympic and Westgate will face Ballarat City.
