EDFL 2021: Robbie Castello boots seven goals in Westmeadows’ win

Westmeadows skipper Robbie Castello put in a best-afield display in a new role as his team produced a scintillating second half.

Westmeadows star Robbie Castello booted seven majors. Picture: Jamie Morey

Westmeadows skipper Robbie Castello produced a masterclass on Saturday to lead his team to emphatic win over Rupertswood in the Essendon District Football League.

If Division 1 rivals needed a reminder of Castello’s ability after a cancelled 2020 campaign, he delivered it with a seven-goal haul in the Tigers’ 44-point victory, 15.9 (99) to 8.7 (55).

Castello copped a knock in his team’s opening-round loss to East Keilor, forcing him from the field in the third quarter.

But the former Werribee VFL captain and 2019 Hutchison medallist was back to his best at the weekend as he produced a standout display after being shifted from his usual position in the middle of the ground.

“He played a different role for us and really showed his class up forward,” Westmeadows coach Mo Kaakour said.

“He not only kicked goals, but was also involved in many others.

“Robbie’s the ultimate professional and gets himself right week in, week out. He’s the type to get stuck into the work from Monday onwards.

“He’s obviously won a (league) medal playing on ball and had some good games.

“We’ve seen what he can do at Marby (Maribyrnong Park) playing forward and one-on-one he’s a hard match-up.

“He was able to get on the end of some good play and get his teammates into the game also.”

The Tigers booted 11 goals to two in the second half after trailing by 14 points at the main break.

They led by 13 points at three-quarter-time before piling on five unanswered majors in the final half-hour to ice a convincing triumph.

Big men Cody Wight and Jason Kenneth, Ahmed Abdul-Wahed and Tom Muscat were influential for the winners, while Omar Saad bagged four goals.

Riley Hearne, who was playing his second senior game, limited the dangerous Cameron McRorie to two goals.

“They’re a good side, Rupo,” Kaakour said of the 2019 Riddell District league premier.

“They’ve got some good young kids and I thought they took it up to us in the first half and were on top early. To our boys’ credit, we found something at halftime and were able to get the result in the end.

“We were better organised around stoppages (in the second half) and were able to get the ascendancy.

“I think our rucks got on top in that third quarter and were able to give us first use and get the ball forward.

“We had an open forward line, which got us back in the game.”

The Tigers will next host Airport West on Sunday in an Anzac Day fixture.