Local footy: Four clubs end lengthy winless runs on same day across Melbourne

FOUR suburban football clubs celebrated droughtbreaking wins on the weekend, singing their songs for the first time in 2018.

THIS was a weekend for the drought-breaker.

Five clubs who had waited three long months of their respective 2018 campaigns broke through with their first wins of the season — Essendon Doutta Stars, Wyndhamvale, Ivanhoe and Mulgrave and Coburg.

ESSENDON DOUTTA STARS OUT TO SALVAGE SEASON

PASSIONATE UMPIRE REACHES 1800 GAMES

Essendon Doutta Stars have appeared destined for relegation from the Essendon District Football League’s Premier Division for much of 2018, but breathed life into their campaign with a 33-point win over West Coburg.

The Stars had come close to their maiden win of the season against Glenroy, Greenvale and Keilor and ended a 12-year wait for success by downing West Coburg 10.15 (75) to 6.6 (42).

Jordan Angus and Charles Lill were outstanding for the Stars, who have hope of avoiding the drop after Saturday’s victory.

They are one game and 2.79 per cent behind West Coburg and play eighth-placed Avondale Heights in Round 14.

In the VFL, Coburg earned first-year coach Leigh Adams his maiden victory when it defeated Frankston by 45 points.

The Lions triumphed 14.11 (95) to 6.14 (50), claiming an emotion-charged win after being denied by a last-second 50m penalty the previous week against Sandringham.

Coburg kicked five goals to three behinds in the first quarter and controlled the clash from then on as ball magnet Marcus Lentini continued his prolific season with 26 disposals.

In the Eastern Football League, Mulgrave sung its song for the first time this year after it accounted for Mooroolbark by four points.

Relegation from Division 2 still looms large for the Lions, but they had reason to celebrate after clinching an 8.13 (61) to 7.15 (57) triumph.

Mulgrave rallied from 27 points down at halftime to produce a stirring win but Mooroolbark will be cursing itself after kicking 1.7 in the second half.

Another club destined for the drop is Ivanhoe, which produced its best three quarters of the campaign to defeat Brunswick on Saturday in VAFA Division 1.

Lachlan Roberts booted four goals and Conor Mitchell was outstanding as Ivanhoe triumphed 13.24 (102) to 11.11 (77), its first win since Round 14, 2017.

Ivanhoe coach Leigh Cole addresses his team, which won its first game of the season on Saturday.

Wyndhamvale had been pummelled by an average of 116 points in the past five weeks in Western Region Football League Division 1 before it rebounded against Albion.

The Falcons soared to a 14.5 (89) to 9.15 (69) victory despite having five less scoring shots than their opponent.

Nathan Bisset was the matchwinner for Wydhamvale, booting five goals to help his team earn its first victory since Round 17 last year.

DROUGHTS OVER

Essendon Doutta Stars — Round 16, 2017 (14 games without a win)

Mulgrave — Round 17, 2017 (13 games)

Ivanhoe — Round 14, 2017 (16 games)

Wyndhamvale — Round 17, 2017 (12 games)

Coburg — Round 18, 2017 (14 games)