WRFL scores: Deer Park defeats Werribee Districts despite injuries

The WRFL Division 1 club toppled the ladder-leader against all odds after losing three players in the first half, while some big names are set to return in Round 7.

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

A patched-up Deer Park produced a spirited display to secure a memorable Western Region Football League Division 1 victory on Saturday.

The Lions toppled ladder-leader Werribee Districts by eight points at Soldiers Reserve, 12.12 (84) to 10.16 (76), despite being three men down in the second half.

The visitors lost Billy Cannolo in the opening seconds of the game before ex-AFL player Todd Elton (who had four goals) and Sohrob Ismail both went down in the second quarter, with the trio suffering hamstring injuries.

But fourth-placed Deer Park defied the misfortune and the pundits to boot five goals to four in the final term as the Tigers dropped to third spot.

It was also the third time this season the seven-time reigning premier has prevailed with a match in the balance at the break.

The Lions are fielding a new-look team after waving goodbye to a long list of champions, headlined by Chris Stewart and Kwame McHarg, but have moved to 4-2 with fixtures against Point Cook and Sunshine in the next fortnight.

“Our spirits are high and our belief is getting better and better each week,” coach Mark McGoldrick said.

“We had three off halfway through the second quarter, all with hamstrings.

“They’re three real big players for us to be honest with you, so we had to rejig the team a bit and just dig a little bit deeper.

“It was super brave. Werribee looked like they had it a couple of times and we just kept fighting away to keep ourselves in the game.

“It was just a good, old-fashioned game of local footy. We were both hard at it, both had a go and we were lucky enough to be in front at the end. Either team could have won.”

McGoldrick said it was “easily” his side’s best win of the season.

He noted the need for the Lions to beat a team above them, with their other victories coming against Yarraville-Seddon, Spotswood and St Albans.

“To have one rotation for most of the day against quality opposition and at a ground we haven’t got great history at, which we spoke about prior to the game, that we wanted to make a stand about that as well. It was just a terrific win,” McGoldrick said.

Scott Greenhough was best afield for the winners after a standout display in the ruck.

“No one can fill Chris Stewart’s shoes, but this kid’s gone pretty close,” McGoldrick said.

“He rucks all day and he gets angry when I have to rotate him.”

Jeremy Mills was prominent in the midfield, while McGoldrick lauded the efforts of teenager Luke Scicchitano, who shone as a defensive forward in a crucial match-up with Werribee Districts skipper Daniel Schibeci.

In more encouraging news, playing assistant Brendan Fevola, Jack Redpath and James Wong are yet to play for Deer Park in 2021.

Star recruits Damien Cavka (one game) and Ryley Barrack (two) and former captain Jack Purton-Smith (three) have also had interrupted seasons.

McGoldrick said Redpath, Wong and Purton-Smith were all in line to face Point Cook at John McLeod Oval.

“Whatever we do now, we’ve said all along we can get better in the second half of the year,” McGoldrick said.