Westmeadows let Hillside get out to an early lead, which was ultimately the difference between the two teams in their Essendon District Football League division 1 clash on Saturday.
The Sharks kicked six goals to one in the first term, a lead they held for most of the game, winning by 24 points, 12.7 (79) to 8.7 (55), at Willowbrook Reserve.
Tigers coach Dave Connell said his side didn’t come out to play in the first quarter.
“We really didn’t have the right mindset, and even after the first quarter we were still poor.
“We talked about [Hillside’s fast starts] all week and talked about it again before the game began.
“They started well and we didn’t. Some of the guys may have got ahead of themselves after a couple of good wins.”
Connell said the Sharks didn’t allow the Tigers to play the football they would have liked.
“We weren’t first to the footy and our work rate wasn’t there.’’
This week, the Tigers face Oak Park at JP Fawkner Reserve on Saturday.
In other division 1 matches, Craigie- burn got its first win of the season, by 21 points against Glenroy.
Reigning premier Greenvale was made to work hard for its first win in premier division, defeating the Northern Saints by 40 points, 19.12 (126) to 12.14 (86). The Saints started well and got out to a 29-point lead at quarter time.
In division 2, Roxburgh Park won a close one against Moonee Valley by 10 points, 10.7 (67) to 8.9 (57), while Jacana went down by 40 points to Keilor Park.
