Westmeadows outclasses Airport West, EDFL Division 1 finals race heats up
Westmeadows’ classy win over Airport West combined with Tullamarine’s big loss has made the EDFL Division 1 finals race very interesting.
Essendon
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Westmeadows ratcheted up the EDFL Division 1 finals pressure on Saturday, outclassing Airport West by 32-points.
The fourth-placed Tigers are now level with the Eagles in third and maintain a one-game break on West Coburg in fifth with four games remaining.
Just eight points separates Tullamarine in second and the Burgers following the Demons’ humiliating 113-point loss to East Keilor.
Westmeadows increased its lead at every change at Hansen Reserve, running out 15.15 (105) to 11.7 (73) winners.
Tigers coach Mo Kaakour due to an inferior percentage the club was preparing for an elimination final every week.
“It was a fantastic, we went there with a job to do and got the chocolates,” he said.
“Our percentage doesn’t really help, which means we’ve got to win as many games as we can in the run home.
“There’s four games to go so we’re treating every game like an elimination final.
“We went to Airport West knowing they’d been in good form – I think they’d won eight or nine of the last 10 – and to get a result against a good football side is really pleasing.”
With Airport West big man Patrik Balta concussed in the opening minutes of the game, Westmeadows ruckman Jason Kenneth dominated the match.
Kenneth earned 40 hitouts, and together with Cody White (30 hitouts), gave his team first use out of the middle and around the ground.
It ensured the likes of George Nabbout had a field day in midfield with 21 disposals and seven tackles.
“Jason was good, they lost Balta early and had to throw (Brandon) Raad into the middle, while we had two rotating through.
“Doing the stats Jason had 40 hitouts and Cody White had 34 and I think they got 31 all up, so it gave us first use around the ground, which was vital.
“George was very influential, he didn’t accumulate like he has done in the past but what he did was all class, he was able to win the ball inside and gave it to our runners.”
Omar Saad booted four goals to take his season tally to 23, while Mitch Church, Josh Flower, Jayden Ranno and Aaron Evans all bagged two goals in an even spread of goalkickers.
Ivan Pavlovic was Airport West’s best in defeat as Jesse McVeigh and Vincent Rizzo also performed strongly.
Westmeadows will look to keep the pressure on the top three when they travel to Hillside on Saturday.
While the Sharks sit in seventh, Kaakour said they simply couldn’t be taken for granted.
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“Hillside is a bit if a funny one, in the three years I’ve been at Westmeadows we’ve played them three times and they’ve knocked us off three times,” he said.
“They’re a bit of a bogey side for us, their position on the ladder doesn’t show what sort of football side they are.
“We’ll go there with confidence coming out of Airport West but you’ve got to work hard for the four points up there.”
Airport West will look to bounce back when they travel to Roxburgh Park.
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