Wyndham Vale Falcons preparing to swoop on top two after a 40-point win over Caroline Springs Lakers in WRFL

WYNDHAM Vale is within striking distance of the top two after accounting for Caroline Springs by 40 points in their Western Region Football League Division 2 clash on Saturday.

WYNDHAM Vale is within striking distance of the top-two after accounting for Caroline Springs by 40 points in their Western Region Football League Division 2 clash on Saturday.

The fifth-placed Lakers went into the clash knowing a loss would dent their top-four aspirations, and it showed early, with the visitors all over the Falcons in the first term.

They kicked five goals to one, moving the ball seamlessly from one end of the ground to the other to build a 26-point lead at the first break.

Wyndham Vale football manager Nathan Evans said the Lakers caught his side off guard.

“We knew they have to try and beat a few sides above them (to finish top-four),” Evans said.

“They had extra intensity, and we were a bit slack. It was a wake-up call.”

But the third-placed Falcons flicked the switch, bringing the margin back to seven points by half-time.

The home side was clinical, producing an 11-goal turnaround from quarter-time to the final siren.

Nine second half goals to one highlighted the Falcons’ class in the 14.8 (92) to 7.10 (52) victory.

Glen Orden’s loss to West Footscray on Saturday sees Parkside jump the Hawks on percentage to the top of the table with 12 wins.

The Falcons and Bulldogs now sit in third and fourth respectively, just a game behind the top pair.

Evans said a double-chance was up for grabs when his side faced Glen Orden and Parkside in rounds 15 and 16.

“We knew the top-four would close up,” Evans said.

“West Footscray have got a good draw so you’d expect them to win most games, so the pressure is on us.

“We’re of the belief that in finals, you’re going to play these top sides anyway,”

“If we play them now and beat them, we could get an edge over them (before finals).”

Evans said the club was hoping to take the next step in finals this year.

“We’ve been around the mark for three years and been beaten in semi finals and prelims,” he said.

“It’s one of those things, we have injury hits one year, out-coached the other year ... we feel we can have a real big shake at it this year.”

The Falcons will start warm favourites against Sunshine Heights this weekend.

In other Division 2 results, West Footscray broke Glen Orden’s unbeaten run, winning by 42 points, while Manor Lakes handed Sanctuary Lakes a 52-point thumping. Laverton also enjoyed an upset win, defeating Braybrook by four points. In Division 1, Hoppers Crossing suffered a shock loss to Altona by 24 points and Werribee Districts prevailed by 84 points over Port Melbourne Colts.