WRFL 2019: Altona secures Division 1 minor premiership

Altona has made two preliminary finals in the past three seasons, but coach Saade Ghazi says the minor premier is a superior team this year after it finished the home-and-away rounds three games clear on top of the table.

Joel Magnabosco will be an important player for Altona in this year’s finals. Picture: Local Legends Photography

With the minor premiership and the week’s rest locked in, there was little on the line for Altona in the final round of the home-and-away season on Saturday.

But the Vikings displayed a relentless appetite for the contest in a 97-point mauling of St Albans, leaving them well placed to add to their one and only premiership in WRFL Division 1 in 2012.

Saade Ghazi’s side made light work of the Saints, keeping them goal-less in the second half of the 16.20 (116) to 2.7 (19) victory.

Joel Magnabosco, Kelly Pickard and Kevin Johnson starred for Altona, while Patrick Rose tuned up for finals with a seven-goal haul.

Altona coach Saade Ghazi. Picture: Kylie Else

“In that situation, I thought the players were really professional and played the game as they should and as we would like,” Ghazi said.

“They stayed in the moment and played accordingly.

“We were 10 or 12 goals in front and guys were still tackling blokes from behind and smothering the footy when they didn’t have to, so I was really rapt with their attitude.”

The minor premiership is of little significance for the Vikings, who were in the same position 12 months ago before suffering a heartbreaking preliminary final defeat to Hoppers Crossing.

They missed the finals in 2017 and also fell at the penultimate hurdle in Ghazi’s first season at the helm in 2016.

But the coach is in no doubt he is in charge of a superior team, with Altona (16-2) finishing three games clear on top of the ladder in an even competition.

“Last year we lost three games and that was an achievement in itself to finish where we did because we didn’t make finals the year before,” Ghazi said.

“But we weren’t ready for it, I think we kind of just fell into it … whereas this year we’ve actually earnt it.

“We’ve won well and just the way we’ve played (has been to a high standard).

“The guys who are still there, they’re a lot better players than they were 12 months ago.

“Credit to them, they’ve worked hard and improved.”

Williamstown VFL-listed duo Tom Mundy and Mitch Norton were absent on Saturday and could be big inclusions in a fortnight if they do not have state league duties.

The Vikings will play the winner of Saturday’s clash between Spotswood and Deer Park in a qualifying final, with the winner to advance to the decider.

Werribee Districts and Hoppers Crossing will lock horns in Sunday’s elimination final.

“It’s hard to split the five teams,” Ghazi said.

“I know we finished on top … I really believe the five teams are really even.

“I wouldn’t discard anyone in the top five. It’s the most even it’s been in my four years.”

The top-five sides all claimed convincing wins in the final round, setting the stage for a fascinating finals series.

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