West Footscray claims first win of WRFL Division 2 season in thriller over rivals North Footscray
A half-time dressing down from coach Shane Lucas sparked West Footscray’s thrilling one-point win over arch-rivals North Footscray on Saturday, the Roosters’ first victory of the season.
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A half-time dressing down from coach Shane Lucas has sparked West Footscray’s thrilling one-point win over arch-rivals North Footscray at Hansen Reserve.
The Roosters trailed by 16 points at the main break when Lucas’ frustrations boiled.
It sparked an immediate response with a five-goal third term and two-point three-quarter-time lead.
In a tight, tense final quarter, North Footscray snatched back the lead twice but West Footscray responded each time.
David Ismail slotted the winning goal with under two minutes on the clock and the Roosters held on to claim their first win of the WRFL Division 2 season.
Lucas was pleased with the team’s resilience after coughing up late leads earlier in the season.
“We’ve got injuries, North Footscray have got injuries, so it was a battle of attrition,” he said.
“At three-quarter-time I said to the guys ‘we’ve been in this position three times this year and let it slip’.
“It’s probably the first time this year they’ve actually dug in.
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“We had plans … but we just didn’t do it and it’s probably the first time this year I’ve lost my s--t and gave it to them.
“After half-time everyone knuckled down and did what they were told.”
Ismail finished with three goals while Simon Kelland finished with two majors.
Callum Buchanan earned best-on-ground honours in the win while Steve Healy, Josh Barker and Kane Liossis also impressed for West Footscray.
Sam Denby-Blake, Brody Vorano and Asher Kirk were among North’s best.
The Roosters face a tough test on Saturday when they host undefeated ladder-leaders Wyndhamvale while North Footscray visit Seddon-Yarraville.
Elsewhere, Deer Park claimed a convincing 55-point win over fellow final contenders Werribee Districts and Spotswood were 54-point winners over St Albans.
In Division 2, Wyndhamvale were too good for Newport, claiming a 55-point victory while Point Cook Centrals moved up to second with a 20-point win over Parkside.
And in Division 3, Sunshine Heights inflicted Tarneit’s first loss of the season with a 23-point triumph.
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