Tara Murray
Rupertswood is starting to earn the reputation as a giant killer in the Essendon District Football League division 1.
Having been the only team to beat Airport West this season, the Sharks upset second placed Tullamarine on Saturday to give their finals hopes a massive boost.
The Sharks winning, 14.12 (96)-11.12 (78).
Sharks coach Arron Bray said the group seemed to be mentally switched on when it came to the big games.
“It was very rewarding for the boys,” he said.
“We were missing six out of our best 22. We had Ben Cannon and Alex Misiti pull out two hours before the game with illness.
“It was a bit of a daunting task, but the guys handled it really well.”
The Demons led by 30 points at quarter time, having had the wind in the first quarter. Bray said they could have easily been a bit closer had they kicked straight.
“We started OK, but we didn’t take our chances,” he said. “We kicked three behinds, but were all gettable shots.
“We pegged them back by half time.”
While the Demons have been known to finish games strongly, Bray said they backed their own ability and fitness to get the job done.
They hit the front in the third quarter and led by nine points at the last break. They went on to outscore the Demons in the final quarter to seal the win.
Bray said it was really pleasing to see how composed the kids were late in the game. He highlighted under-18 Aaron West, who was making his senior debut, saying he didn’t look out of place.
Zac Saad and Mitchell Johnson kicked three goals each in the win.
Bray said there was an even spread of contributors in the win, and it would make selection hard when those missing return.
The win and other results, mean the Sharks sit in fifth spot, just percentage outside the top four.
Bray said finals were definitely the aim.
“We want to get there and our draw is OK,” he said.
“We need to close the gap between our best form and our worst. It’s 90 per cent a mental game, we’re always up for the big games.
“We’ve beaten first and second. We need to win four of our five games in the run home and we should play finals. It’ll be a big tick.”
At the other end of the ladder, the race to avoid relegation took another turn with the Sunbury Kangaroos back on the bottom of the ladder.
The Kangaroos on Saturday suffered a 20.11 (131)-6.9 (45) loss to Westmeadows.
The Tigers had the wind in the first quarter and used it to their advantages and were never headed.
Moonee Valley, the other side in the relegation battle, on the other hand had an upset win against Roxburgh Park.
The Fog winning, 10.13 (73)-8.8 (56).
The results put the Fog a game clear of the Kangaroos, as well as percentage. The two teams face each other this week.
