SUNSHINE Kangaroos are the latest to feel the wrath of reigning premiers Spotswood as the status quo remains in the Western Region Football League division 1.
The travelling Kangaroos were competitive until half-time on Saturday before the Woodsmen took it up a notch in the second half to run away with a 61-point win at Donald McLean Reserve.
Kangaroos coach Brett Jacobs could not tell if the Woodsmen were a better unit than 12 months ago, but he is aware of the gulf which exists between the yardstick and the rest of the competition at this point.
“We’re under no illusions, we know where they sit and what they’ve achieved over the last five or six years,” he told the Weekly.
“We knew we were coming down here to test ourselves and see how we measure up against the best in the competition.
“We’ve got a bit of work to do but we know where we sit and we’ll go back and start to try and improve.”
The swirly conditions at the foot of the West Gate Bridge made it tough for the players to execute their skills.
The Woodsmen turned just 16 of 37 scoring shots into goals.
If only the Kangaroos had a similar problem as their issues centred around butchering the ball in the run on.
“We had too many turnovers,” Jacobs said.
“They’re such a good side when you turn it over, they hurt you on the rebound and score against you.
“I thought their onballers worked a bit harder than our guys and were able to get on the end of some good plays.”
The Kangaroos, for all their turnovers, were still within arm’s length of the home side at the main break.
They trailed by just 13 points at half-time.
Keeping the visitors in the game was the tackling of Hayden Moloney, who finished with 15 for the game, the competitiveness of Jacob Koroneos in the ruck against Lachie McGhie and the damage limitation role of under-sized Adam Bright in defence on big-name forward Jason Cloke, who finished with four goals.
Roos’ full-forward Patrick Wiggins finished with three goals.
The intensity the Roos showed in the opening hour, however, was lacking after half-time, as the Woodsmen ran rampant to record a big victory.
“We knew they were going to come out and try and put the game out of reach,” Jacobs said.
“Our focus was to try and stay in touch at three-quarter-time and see how we go and unfortunately we were unable to do it.”
It was the Kangaroos’ first blemish on the season, leaving the Woodsmen and Altona Vikings as the last undefeated teams in the top tier.
The Roos face a tricky opponent in North Footscray on Saturday at Kinder Smith Reserve, a game they will not be taking lightly.
“They’re a much improved side,” Jacobs said.
“We certainly won’t be underestimating them.”
