WRFL Division 1 scores: Spotswood beats Altona in stunning turnaround

The Woodsmen started the WRFL Division 1 season 0-4 and were held goalless when they last tackled Altona. But the perennial contender sent a message to its rivals on Saturday.

Spotswood's Josh Drage was among his team’s best on Saturday. Picture: Local Legends Photography

Spotswood’s senior side failed to kick a goal for the first time in 74 years when it tackled Altona in April.

Fast forward to Saturday and the rejuvenated Woodsmen completed a stunning turnaround in the re-match against their Western Region Football League Division 1 rivals.

Despite being kept goalless in two quarters, Spotswood prevailed by 19 points in a low-scoring contest, 7.10 (52) to 3.15 (33), to improve its record to 5-5.

Anthony Eames’ side has won five of its past six games and scored big wins over 2019 grand finalists Deer Park and the Vikings in the past fortnight.

After a 0-4 start to the campaign, the perennial contender is sitting fifth and back in contention.

That is despite the pause in the season forcing matches against St Albans (seventh) and Point Cook (10th) to be cancelled. The Woodsmen would have been warm favourites to win both.

Spotswood coach Anthony Eames. Picture: Local Legends Photography

“For us it’s just about being competitive,” Eames said.

“We’ve all identified as a club and certainly the playing group and coaching staff that we just weren’t competitive earlier in the year.

“At Division 1 level, you can’t afford not to be every week that you play because you’re at risk of getting beaten and that certainly happened the first four games, even though we played the four better sides in the comp.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do I think to catch up to the top three or four. The ball’s in our court every week moving forward.

“If we want to play finals, we’ve just got to keep winning.”

Spotswood booted four goals to one in what proved a decisive opening-quarter burst, with the home team leading at each change.

Eames praised the contributions of Harley Walshe in the backline and Ben Deller in the ruck.

Sam Davis, Josh Drage, Josh Norton and Brydan Hodgson were named the best for the winners.

Eames said his players continued to improve defensively after their early-season struggles.

“I thought our defensive 50 work was probably better than what it’s been,” he said.

“The conditions certainly didn’t help them (Altona) by any stretch, but when you look at the end result they still had a few scoring shots. But we matched them in that area and there were quite a few pressured behinds.

“With our defensive aspect earlier in the year, they wouldn’t have been points, they would have been goals. That’s what was happening early.

“We need to stay on it and keep looking for that improvement.”

The Woodsmen will tackle new ladder-leader Werribee Districts on Saturday in what shapes as an intriguing clash.

A first-quarter blitz laid the platform for the Tigers’ 56-point victory when the pair met in Round 4.

“I think Werribee’s a dangerous side,” Eames said.

“They smacked us in Round 4 earlier in the year and kicked eight goals to nothing in the first quarter.

“We’re certainly going to have our work cut out. They’ve been very strong all year.”

Werribee Districts hammered rival flag contender Hoppers Crossing by 68 points on Saturday.

Deer Park, Sunshine and Caroline Springs were the other winners in Round 12.