EAGLES ON THE PRECIPICE OF FINALS FOOTBALL
By CONNOR PAIN
Yarraville Seddon is on the precipice of finals football after a demolition of Spotswood that puts the Eagles one game clear in fourth place with one game remaining.
The 14.11(95) to 3.5(23) smashing was thanks in large part to 13 goals to one after quarter time, ending the Woodsmen’s slim finals hopes and sets up a tantalising final round clash between the Eagles and Werribee Districts.
The visitors got off to the better start but couldn’t turn their control into goals and took a six-point lead into the first break.
That was as good as it got for Spotswood as they were ran all over by Yarraville Seddon.
Six goals to one in the second was just the start as the hammer blow by the Eagles continued in the second half.
The home side had the game sewn up despite just one goal in the third, but a further six in the last compounded the Woodsmen’s misery, the Eagles running out 71-point victors.
10 Eagles hit the scoreboard in a balanced attacking output that all but confirms the Eagles as a finals team in 2023, a big loss and a big Caroline Springs win in Round 18 will need to occur for the sides to swap ladder positions.
Spotswood face Point Cook Centrals this week and will look to end their season on a high.
Hoppers Crossing produced one of the upsets of the season with a stunning two-point win over Caroline Springs.
Trailing at the half and having won just once entering the day, the Warriors produced a mammoth second half effort to all but end the Lakers quest for finals.
The 8.11(59) to 7.15(57) win should give Hoppers plenty of confidence to wreak more havoc when they face Point Cook this week.
The Lakers host Altona with their fate all but determined.
Point Cook kept the wood over local rivals Point Cook Centrals thanks to a tense 11.14(80) to 10.10(70) triumph that puts the Bulldogs in the box seat for second spot.
A slow start didn’t deter the visitors in the 10-point win who now need a win or an Altona loss in Round 18 to lock up second.
Werribee Districts emerged 23-point winners in a low-scoring affair with Altona.
Overcoming a first quarter deficit, the Tigers four goal to zero second term proved to be too much for the Vikings to handle.