East Sunbury’s progress continues by the week in Essendon District Football League division 2.
Having already won more matches than the two previous years’ combined, the Thunder added another first to this year’s achievements at the weekend.
Playing Keilor Park, the Thunder recorded its first victory against a side other than Burnside Heights and was the better side from early in the game.
But it had to survive a last-quarter comeback for its 11.10 (76) –10.9 (69) win.
Thunder coach Steve Grey didn’t know whether his side had what it took to hold off the last-quarter comeback.
“We led all day before they hit the front halfway through the last,” Grey said.
“I really didn’t think we had it in us to respond.
“They were running across the ground and had the momentum of the game.”
Losing the lead seemed to be what the Thunder needed to switch back on.
“From then, we controlled the game,” Grey said. “Ash Fleming, Kamen Ogilvie and Jason King showed their experience and won the footy at the right times.
“Ash kicked the goal to put us back in front. We kept the composure, and showed the belief that we can win these games, that we can win when the chips are down.”
Grey said King, Ayden Smith and Matt Reiffel had come to the fore in the past month.
“In that time, they’ve really come a long way. This group has come on leaps and bounds,” Grey said.
“The attitude, discipline … and they have been working well together.’
The win cements the Thunder’s sixth spot on the ladder.
Grey isn’t content to settle with three wins for the season.
“With four weeks to go, there are a couple of sides we think we can beat.
“I’d like to get two wins from the final four rounds and upset some teams,” he said.
“This win gives us confidence for not only the rest of the year but next year.
“At the start of this year, I said we wanted to win four to six games and if we can get a couple more wins we will take that,” he said.
“We’ve done better than a lot of people expected.”
