Has local footy power turned the corner?
The Western Region Football League’s most successful club has claimed three consecutive wins after a 0-4 start to 2021, cruising to an 89-point triumph on Saturday.
by Luke D’Anello, May 24, 2021 – 1:30PM, Leader
Spotswood coach Anthony Eames is not willing to declare his team has turned the corner.
But after starting the Western Region Football League Division 1 season 0-4 for the first time since 1940, the Woodsmen have claimed three consecutive wins to revive their campaign.
They swept aside top-flight newcomer Yarraville-Seddon by 89 points on Saturday in their most convincing display of 2021, 20.15 (135) to 6.10 (46).
Eames, however, is aware there is plenty of heavy lifting to be done to catch the competition’s pacesetters despite his side’s improved form.
“We probably need a couple more games I would have thought, and then hopefully we can square the (win-loss) ledger up over the next two weeks at least and go from there because it starts again.” Eames said.
“We were legitimately poor in the first three or four games. It took a bit to get going.
“We’re still a fair way off as far as where I would have liked to be at this stage.”
Spotswood dominated from the outset at Yarraville Oval, establishing a 38-point lead at the main break and a 51-point advantage at three-quarter-time.
The visitors piled on eight majors in the final half-hour to ice an emphatic win, leaving them in seventh position and lifting their percentage to 100.83.
“It’s probably the first time we’ve actually finished a game off. We’ve been very inconsistent up until that point,” Eames said.
“Even on the weekend, Yarraville moved the ball pretty well at different stages and made us look pretty ordinary at times.
“We need to a bit of work on our defensive transition because they took it the length of the ground a couple of times and could have hurt us and let us off the hook.”
Big man Ben Deller was best-afield for the winners, while Brandon Walshe contributed six goals and Steven O’Bryan and Reuben William three apiece.
Brydan Hodgson, James Beilby, Shamus Tippett and Sam Harvey were others to impress.
Eames said Deller had rebounded from a slow start to 2021.
“He’s worked his butt off to turn it around,” he said.
“When things weren’t going our way … he’s one of the guys who has turned it around, and it’s through hard work.
“He’s brought a level of professionalism the others have to follow. He’s certainly one of the leaders in that regard.”
Walshe has 13 majors from five appearances, providing a target in the attacking half.
“He’s mobile, quick … he has all the attributes. Just needs to be more consistent,” Eames said.
The J.J Liston Trophy winner said his team had played with more spirit in recent weeks after opening the season with losses to Hoppers Crossing (31 points), Deer Park (11 points), Altona (58 points) and Werribee Districts (56 points), who fill the top-four positions on the ladder.
“When things don’t go your way, I guess you find out about players and individuals within the group,” Eames said.
“I’m hoping we’ve turned that corner, but it’s something we’ve got to generate every week, as opposed to thinking it’s just going to happen. The minute you think it’s going to happen in this comp, someone gives you a wake-up call.
“We can’t afford any more wake-up calls because we’re chasing our tail.”
The Woodsmen will host fifth-ranked St Albans in a vital fixture this weekend.