EDFL scores: Hillside defies doubters to defeat Westmeadows

The Sharks snapped a three-game losing streak and defied the pundits in EDFL Division 1 as two electric forwards combined for 13 goals.

Zak Wunhym played a key role in Hillside’s upset win. Picture: Hamish Blair

One side had dropped three consecutive matches, the other had secured three wins in a row.

One was tipped as a relegation contender, the other a finals contender.

But Hillside defied the doubters and recent form to overrun Westmeadows in an Essendon District Football League Division 1 boilover on Saturday.

The new-look Sharks trailed by four points at three-quarter-time before booting six goals to two in a stunning final-term display to prevail by 17 points, 17.12 (114) to 14.13 (97).

It was their first victory since Good Friday and improved their record to 2-3, with coach Charlie Denaro pleased to gain “reward for effort”.

Hillside’s midfield dictated terms after the main break, with the likes of youngster Tristan Rudic, recruit Zak Wunhym and skipper Jackson Volapto influential.

“We spoke at halftime about our midfield. We sort of let them get a bit of the ascendancy out of the middle, which put enormous pressure on our backs,” Denaro said.

“We spoke about that again at three-quarter-time and just reiterated making sure our mids were doing what we spoke about … how we thought we could hurt Westmeadows.

“In the end, they got on top. I think it 21-13 inside 50s in the last quarter and the midfielders did the job.”

Hillside coach Charlie Denaro calls the shots. Picture: Hamish Blair

Bailey Ryan (seven goals) and Hisham Kerbatieh (six) feasted on the supply, combining for 13 majors in a devastating display.

Opposition clubs have successfully negated the pair at times this season, but Denaro said his midfield had also done Ryan and Kerbatieh “no favours”.

It was a different story at the weekend, however, with the duo showcasing their skill inside the attacking 50m arc.

“Our system worked a bit better this week and our centre breaks just gave them a bit of room to move and didn’t allow the opposition to get in their way,” Denaro said.

“They thrived on that … both of them are very good one-on-one players.

“They started off a bit slow, but just continually worked and got on top in the end.”

Denaro heaped praise on wingman Rudic, who has played just 16 senior games and was named best afield.

“He’s an absolute workhorse,” he said.

“He’s only a small bloke and does not stop running. His workrate was phenomenal.”

The Sharks fielded a team with an average age of less than 22 in an encouraging sign for their future prospects, with 16-year-old Cooper Ellis making his debut.

Denaro said Hillside had been competitive against some of the competition’s leading teams in recent weeks before falling away.

But he has plenty of reasons to be enthused as the Sharks prepare to tackle Division 1 newcomer Sunbury Kangaroos in a twilight fixture in Round 6.

“We knew we weren’t playing that bad,” Denaro said.

“No one realty rates us. I think we were one of the favourites to finish bottom of the ladder.

“It definitely give us a bit of confidence that the results will come, as long as we keep persevering.”