WRFL 2019: Altona hammers Deer Park by 68 points in Division 1

Seldom is WRFL powerhouse Deer Park on the receiving end of a belting, but on Saturday the Lions ran into a razor-sharp Altona outfit.

Altona star Jordan Robbins looks for an option. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Seldom is WRFL powerhouse Deer Park on the receiving end of a belting.

But the Lions, who are vying for a record seventh consecutive Division 1 premiership, exited Grant Reserve bruised and battered on Saturday after being dismantled by a slick Altona.

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The Vikings have enjoyed several memorable wins during Saade Ghazi’s tenure, qualifying for two preliminary finals in the past three seasons, but the 68-point triumph won’t be forgotten in a hurry.

Yes, it was a home-and-away fixture, but this was a special performance.

Altona piled on eight goals in the opening term to establish a 28-point lead at the first break and was never seriously threatened.

The home side was relentless all afternoon and prevailed 21.8 (134) to 10.6 (66).

Ghazi stopped short of declaring it a statement to the competition, but he was understandably ecstatic.

Coach Saade Ghazi was thrilled with Altona’s display. Picture: Kylie Else

“I think that’s the best we’ve played for a long, long time,” he said.

“You have a day where everything sort of goes for you. We got a goal in the first 30 seconds against the wind.

“I think we addressed during the week not to be overawed by who we’re playing and try to stick to the way we want to play.

“Obviously we respect Deer Park … but I think we got a bit overawed the second time we played them last year. We were a bit defensive.”

Altona is one of four teams with a 3-1 win-loss record, while three others are 2-2 after an even opening month of the campaign.

Making the success all the more meritorious was the fact the Vikings were without ace forward Patrick Rose and Tom Mundy.

Kevin Johnson earned plaudits for limited ex-Western Bulldogs forward Jack Redpath to two goals, while Kelly Pickard also kept Jase Perkins to two.

“When you’ve got forwards of that calibre, you have to defend strongly,” Ghazi said.

“But it’s not just them, it’s the way we defend as a group.

“But if you win like that, you don’t have many weak links in the chain obviously.”

Ghazi said he was “proud” and “satisfied” after watching his plans come to fruition.

The Vikings’ only loss this season came by a solitary point to Werribee Districts in Round 2 and they look set to figure prominently at the pointy end.

“I know we’ve got 15 players who came through the juniors … so they’re winning games of footy and they’ve been able to play with their mates all along,” Ghazi said.

“That doesn’t happen a lot. I think that’s really important.

“It’s good for us as a footy club that we’re doing the right things and guys want to stay around.”

Point Cook, Spotswood, Werribee Districts and Caroline Springs were the other winners in Round 4.

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