A bad 15 minutes in the second quarter ultimately cost Westmeadows in its clash with Hillside on Saturday, with the home side falling to a 29-point loss.
While the two teams sit at opposite ends of the Essendon District Football League division one ladder, Westmeadows was able to take first use of a strong breeze to take an early lead in the contest.
The nine-point buffer at quarter-time may have been greater had the home side kicked a little straighter, with just two majors coming from eight scoring shots, but at the other end it was able to contain the powerful Sharks forwards to just one goal.
However, the tide turned viciously in the second quarter, with Hillside making full use of the wind to slam on ten goals to blow the game wide open.
With one of its youngest sides for the year on the park, Westmeadows had no answers to the onslaught, according to coach David Connell.
“We went away from everything that we wanted to do for ten minutes in that second quarter, and that ultimately cost us,” Connell said. “It probably made the game look worse than it was, because I thought we played quite well for most of it.
“We had five guys out from the week before, three midfielders, our main forward and our main back, so we knew we were going to be up against it with an inexperienced side, and that lack of senior blokes cost us with some inconsistencies.”
The final scoreline of 16.17 (113)-7.14 (56) showed the gap between the two sides, but Westmeadows was able to prevent a final quarter blowout, matching the Sharks on the scoreboard despite kicking into the wind.
While the lack of senior players on the park hurt Westmeadows on the day, Connell said he was impressed with some of his under 19s.
“Corey Field played his first game and played 100 per cent game time down back, and only had one goal kicked on him, so he did a great job for us,” Connell said.
“Young Josh Hale had probably his third game for the seniors in three or four years and probably played his best game, and Jordan Hollow from the under 19s was our best goalkicker with three, so there were some encouraging signs out there.”
Elsewhere, Greenvale held onto top spot on the premier division ladder with a convincing 41-point win over Maribyrnong Park.
The Jets kept the Lions to just 29 points for the game as they strode to a 9.16 (70)-3.11 (29) win.
Craigieburn remain winless this season following an 85-point loss to Aberfeldie.
