Westmeadows has all but sealed a finals spot in Essendon District Football League division 1 ahead of clashes with the top two sides.
With two rounds to go, the Tigers are eight points and percentage clear of Hillside and Oak Park, meaning they can breathe a little easier in the run home.
But most pleasing for the Tigers was not just sealing a finals berth but the manner they did it.
They beat Taylors Lakes 17.5 (107)9.10 (64) in what Tigers coach Dave Connell described as the side’s most complete four-quarter performance of the season.
Kicking with the wind in the first quarter, the Tigers looked the better side with nine scoring shots to three to lead by 16 points at quarter-time.
The TIgers’ second and third quarters set up the win, before the they started to ice players and the Lions struggled with injuries which saw the game lose its spark in the final quarter.
Tigers coach Dave Connell said the performance was much needed after disappointments in the previous few rounds.
“I walked away last week pretty disappointed and thought we were further away from what we thought we were,” he said.
“Seven days is a long time and we walk away today thinking we’re a lot closer. [Playing] Taylors Lakes at Taylors Lakes is always difficult … and then there was the wind.
“We had a lot of it in the first quarter and we wasted our opportunities a little bit. The intensity and effort was really good but it was a tricky wind.
“Outscoring them in the second quarter against the wind probably set the game up as well
“They had 17 inside-50s in that second quarter but only one goal and that was probably reflective of the rest of the game.”
The Tigers were also helped by their accuracy in front goal. After being 4.5 at quarter time, they kicked 13 goals straight for the rest of the match.
“I think we got lucky,” Connell said. “I don’t know if we can replicate that again.”
Andrew Vavra, who kicked three goals, was best on ground.
Cody Wight, who also kicked three, was another standout and at just 16 he has supporters excited.
“I thought he was great today and it’s a big achievement for a 16yearold playing against grown men to kick three goals,” Connell said.
“We told him on Thursday night we actually think that having him in our side makes us better, which is a big wrap for a 16-year-old.
“He’s pretty confident kid and has something about him that will help him go a long way.”
In another boost for the Tigers, they came away from the win unscathed and finished with four fit players on the bench for possibly the first time this season.
Connell said would get one or two more players back in the next couple of weeks, including Daniel Callegari.
The Tigers face secondplaced Tullamarine this weekend and then ladder leader Craigieburn in the final round of the season.
Tulla is the most inform team in the competition having won seven games in a row. Their last loss was a one-point defeat by the Tigers.
“[The win] takes some pressure off now we know we’ll be relatively safe and can roll the dice a little bit and have a crack at both of them,” Connell said.
In premier division, Greenvale suffered a ninepoint loss to Maribyrnong Park, while in division 2,
Roxburgh Park come from behind against East Sunbury and Jacana lost a close one to East Keilor.
