Dale Collins bags 17 goals in Westbourne Grammarians big win over Chadstone in the Victorian Amateur Football Association

WESTBOURNE Grammarians coach Roger Hand has hosed down the hype surrounding Dale Collins after the Warriors full-forward slotted 17 goals.

VAFA footy: Point Cook V Westbourne Grammarians. No 30 Vincent Leung for Westbourne. Picture: David Smith

WESTBOURNE Grammarians coach Roger Hand has hosed down the hype surrounding Dale Collins after the Warriors full-forward slotted 17 goals in the side’s 188-point win over Chadstone in the Victorian Amateur Football Association on Saturday.

The haul came on the back of a bag of 15 goals against Masala, taking Collins’ season tally to 55 from seven games.

The first-year Warrior opened the season with two goals from as many matches, before three consecutive seven-goal performances.

Collins has built a big lead on the Division 4 goalkicking table, with Box Hill North’s Daniel Penny second on 33 goals.

But coach Roger Hand was quick to play down the star sharpshooter’s efforts.

“It’s a good effort but ultimately the team got it to him (Collins),” Hand said.

“I think he’s kicked three sevens, a 15 and a 17, so I’m happy with that form, but it’s still got to stand the test of time. Given he’s our first forward, of course he’s an important cog to us, but ultimately there are 21 other blokes as well.”

The Warriors were untroubled in the 34.15 (219) to 4.7 (31) win, which followed a 174-point triumph over Masala in Round 7.

“Without any disrespect to the opposition, the last two weeks have been against really average opponents,” Hand said. “For us, the two games after the bye are eight-point games.”

The third-placed Warriors next host fifth-placed North Brunswick on June 13.