Western pride fuels thrilling win By Lance Jenkinson Goal sneak Andrew Panayi came to the rescue for the Western Region Football League in its heart-stopping three-point win over Ballarat Football League in the AFL Victoria Community Championships at the Whitten Oval on Saturday. After a see-sawing game, Matthew Notman put the BFL in front deep into time-on of the last quarter, but the WRFL kept pressing and bombed a ball into the forward line, where Panayi was infringed upon in front of goal. The rest was on the shoulders of the Werribee Districts forward, who did not let his side down with a set shot. WRFL onballer Matt Dean said Panayi had been tagged “the iceman” because of the coolness with which he’d kicked the winning goal under immense pressure. “We gave him an opportunity – kicked into the forward line and he got dragged down holding-the-man and didn’t miss from right in front,” Dean said. WRFL coach Anthony Eames and his assistant, Steve Thom, asked for total commitment and pride in the jumper and that is exactly what they got. The WRFL’s big-name former AFL players were no shows, so the league showcased the best locally-produced talent. “It would’ve been awesome to have had the opportunity to play with people who have had the AFL experience, but unfortunately, for whatever reason, injuries or wanting a rest, they didn’t put their hand up,” Dean said. “It gave an opportunity to other people who were more committed and more prepared to do what it takes to win on the day.” Dean was outstanding at the coal face for the WRFL, collecting best-on-ground honours. The Werribee Districts captain believes the medal could have easily gone to a number of his teammates. “There were probably a handful of other people that probably could’ve taken it,” he said. “I appreciate the people adjudged me worthy of the medal, but it’s a lot more enjoyable just to
The WRFL teams revels in its interleague glory. (Shawn Smits)
be a part of a win with the 22 other blokes who went out there today.” Murray Boyd was colossal for the WRFL. The big man from Spotswood excelled in whichever positions he was deployed. “He was up forward, in the ruck and dropping back … he was everywhere,” Dean said. “As a big, strong presence on the field, everyone looks up to him and respects him very highly in the western region. He was a major factor in us being able to win.” Jase Perkins (Deer Park) was the focal point for the WRFL with four goals, while small
AFL Victoria Community Championships Seniors: WRFL 13.17 (95) d BFL 13.14 (92) Under-19: WRFL 22.12 (144) d BFL 7.7 (49) forward Daniel Castellano (Sunshine) also kicked four. David Sablich (Spotswood), Braden Ferrari (Hoppers Crossing) and Tim Quick (Deer Park) also had major impacts.
Titans burn off Suns to win six from six Tarneit showed in an explosive 30 minutes of football on Saturday why it is the early pacesetter in division 3 of the Western Region Football League. There was nothing spectacular about the Titans’ first two and a half quarters as they methodically marched towards victory over a gallant Wyndham Suns, who had themselves endured a tumultuous week after the resignation of their inaugural coach. But then came half an hour of football never seen before by a Titans senior side as they ticked off their sixth win in six matches this season. They incredibly reeled off 11 goals and kept the Suns scoreless in a spectacular final term to win 21.11 (137)-4.8 (32). Asked if it was the best quarter of football played by the Titans this season, football manager Adam Taylor took it a step further. “This year?” he said. “Or in our short tenure as a club? “We’ve usually been on the other end of these defeats in the last few years. It was, no doubt, our best football for the year.” It has been a rocky start to Wyndham’s second year in the senior competition. The Suns have struggled to mesh their new recruits and their woes were compounded with the departure of coach Matthew Stoodley. A 100-plus point loss is not the form of a side that wants to feature in the finals this season. But Taylor was sympathetic to the Suns, saying the blow-out scoreline was not a true reflection on the game as a whole.
Luke Cook has been one of Tarneit’s standouts in the past two matches. (Damjan Janevski)
“The scoreboard was flattering in the end,” he said. “Credit the Suns, they went through a difficult week, switched coaches and for two and a half quarters it was really tight. “It was just that last quarter that made the score blow out in our favour.” Tarneit is not getting carried away with the unbeaten record and certainly cannot let their guard down with the dangerous Parkside visiting Wootten Road Reserve on Saturday. “We’ll certainly be wary and concerned by
what they can bring,” Taylor said. “They got some good players down there.” It is Tarneit’s third year as a senior club in the WRFL. The mission in year one was to be promoted in five years, but that could be fast-tracked if the early signs are an indication. “Being up there and recognised is something the club is proud of,” Taylor said. “It’s only early but we plan to keep it rolling on.” Lance Jenkinson
On the back of their victory, the WRFL has moved up to sixth in the statewide rankings. They are slipping under the radar and thriving on the underdog tag. Dean paid credit to Eames and Thom, the side’s coaches, and their fervent desire to earn respect for their league. “They’re just so passionate about the western region – they’re western suburbs people and have grown up in the area. “They have a bit of a mission to try and prove a point. Hopefully, over the next few years we can fight ourselves up the ranks and earn that respect.”
Best pull away from the rest The gap between the best and the rest in division 2 of the Western Region Football League seems to widen by the week. There is an enthralling three-way battle for the minor premiership between Caroline Springs, North Footscray and Yarraville-Seddon, while the other four clubs jostle for the last spot in the finals. Even fourth spot is starting to look like Glenorden’s to lose. The Hawks hold down that position despite having played a game fewer than the three teams below them. Manor Lakes is a long way off the pace and it showed in a 222-point loss to ladder-leader Caroline Springs at Howqua Reserve on Saturday. The Storm had no answer to Caroline Springs boom recruit Mathew Sutton, who booted 15 goals. Ty Priest made the most of his chances for Manor Lakes with three goals, while the ever-consistent Nathan Montague filed another performance to be proud of. But with 55 scoring shots to eight, it was all one-way traffic as Caroline Springs moved to the top of the division. Lance Jenkinson 81 WYNDHAM STAR WEEKLY \ MAY 25, 2016