WRFL 2021: Deer Park answers critics with win over Spotswood

With a long injury list and three first-gamers, WRFL club Deer Park retrieved a three-quarter-time deficit to defeat Spotswood.

Rod Van Riet starred in Deer Park’s victory. Picture: Local Legends Photography

An undermanned Deer Park showed it is far from a spent force in the Western Region Football League with a gutsy victory over rival flag contender Spotswood on Saturday.

With several prime movers absent, the Lions booted the only three goals of the last quarter to prevail by 11 points on their home turf in the Division 1 clash, 11.8 (74) to 9.9 (63).

The success came after the club was outclassed by Caroline Springs in the opening round.

Deer Park also fielded three first-gamers, with Nicolas Aleksovski bagging three goals, while Luke Scicchitano shone across half-back. Connor Parkin also made his debut and Lance Grogan played his first senior match since 2015.

The Woodsmen led at each break – by two points, one point and eight points – before being overrun.

“It was a super win from our team,” Lions coach Mark McGoldrick said.

“Early on we sat on (Spotswood’s) key onballers, (David) Iaccarino and (Nick) Graham, but given the calibre of player they are, we weren’t really able to stop their influence.

“We went a little bit more attacking in the second half, freed up our onballers and we just started to wear them down, but we couldn’t break them.

“Then in the last quarter our blokes really lifted and went to another level and we were able to get on top.

“We had a lot of forward entries in the last quarter and it took us a while to hit the front.

“It was a lot of hard grunt work which we didn’t do against Caroline Springs, and that was pleasing.”

Scott Greenhough fired in the ruck for Deer Park. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Ruckman Scott Greenhough was best afield, Lachlan Smart also kicked three goals, while Rod Van Riet earned plaudits from the coach for his efforts in the midfield.

“His experience with such a young team just came to the fore, especially after halftime,” McGoldrick said of Van Riet.

McGoldrick said he was encouraged by the fact his young side lifted in the absence of several established stars.

Captain Spiros Amarantidis, former skipper Jack Purton-Smith, ex-AFL player Damien Cavka, Ryley Barrack, William Krithararis and Arron Britten were among those sidelined.

Playing assistant Brendan Fevola is also out and will not take the field until the “middle of May”.

McGoldrick labelled Deer Park’s Round 1 defeat “an aberration”.

“I spoke to the players and said to forget about it, it’s an aberration and not what we were like in the practice matches,” he said.

“We know inside that we’ve got a talented list that’s going to have its ups and downs.

“We’re certainly going to experience that for the rest of the year.”

The Lions will next tackle Yarraville-Seddon away from home.