The Sunbury Kangaroos got some reward for effort as they knocked off ladder leaders Glenroy in the Essendon District Football League division 2 competition.
While out of finals contention, the Kangaroos are still keen to finish the season on a high against some finals bound sides.
On Saturday, they were able to put together a four quarter performance and come away with a 15.8 (98)-9.9 (63) win.
Kangaroos football manager Matthew Baird said it was a pretty good day for the club.
“It was about putting four quarters together,” he said. “That was the difference.
“We’ve been in every game but one, back in round one.
“It’s been part of having a young side and injuries to key players but we have been really competitive.
“A four quarter performance was really nice and knocking off the top side, shows what we can do.”
The Kangaroos started well and led by 24 points at quarter time and were able to keep in front at each of the breaks.
The margin was just eight points at three quarter time, but there would be no heartbreaking loss this time.
The Kangaroos kicked the only four goals of the final quarter to seal the win.
Mitch Streiff kicked four goals for the Kangaroos, while Shawn Bowden and Chris Lucas kicked three goals each.
Tie Cuffe, Streiff and John Corso were named their best.
Baird said that while they will miss finals this season, the club was in a really good spot for the future.
The club sits in sixth spot.
“We have re-signed 30 bloods for next year and that will increase,” he said. “The kids are learning and getting some experience.
“We’ve got that experience and then the age drops off really fast. We’ll look to add a couple of A-graders.
“We’re not happy where we’re going to finish, but we are realistic.
“We’re looking to finish the season on a high and Shanon [Carroll] can show them that they can do it and this is how we have to do it.”
In good signs for the Kangaroos, their under-18s are set to finish in the top two and have a good crack at finals.
Baird said they had debuted five or six of them but were wary of making sure that they got to possibly experience success with their mates in the under-18s.
The Kangaroos under-17s also won through to a grand final on Sunday.
“Half the under-18s will come up into senior football and we’re really confident they will hang around next season,” Baird said.
“That’s what we need to do to build some depth.”
The Kangaroos finish their season against Keilor Park.
In other matches, Rupertswood and East Sunbury both suffered losses.
