West Preston-Lakeside are off and running in the 2024 Melbourne Greyhounds Division 1 competition, defeating Macleod by 38 points at J.E. Moore Park.
The Roosters led by three points at half time before kicking 11 second half majors to run out 16.13 (109) to 10.11 (71) winners, scoring their first triumph under new coach Ian Aitken.
Dante Colosimo had his best game of the season to date in just his fourth senior appearance, kicking five majors, a performance he was capable of producing another a 65-major, league best and fairest winning season for the club’s Under 19.5’s side in 2023.
Along with the 20-year-old, Sam McIlroy, also playing his fourth senior match, featured in his side’s best for the first time, meanwhile Felix Dreher was excellent for the home team and played a key role in the victory.
Darcy Barden did all he could for Macleod at both ends of the ground, finishing with three goals along with Shane Doherty.
Zachary Hudson and Mackenzie Hogg continued their good form for the visitors despite the defeat, while Kobe Brandt impressed.
Neither team gave an inch in the first term and goals were scarce.
West Preston-Lakeside would kick the only two majors for the quarter, the first coming through Bregon Cotchett, after reading the ball better than his opponent and claiming the mark inside 50, before having no issues converting from straight in front.
The Roosters had to work extremely hard for their second goal, with the Roos’ defence applying constant pressure on the ball carrier. But some clever and classy ball movement saw Colosimo chip one through for his first of the afternoon.
With a two-goal advantage at quarter time, Ian Aitken’s men started the second term strongly.
Colosimo added to his goal tally before Sebastian La Greca made it two goals in as many minutes to balloon the home side’s lead to 24 points.
However just as the Roosters threatened to tear the game apart so early in the contest, the Roos finally got going.
Mackenzie Hogg’s strong vision abled him to find Jordan Corelli, who got Macleod’s first goal on the board. Moments later, Hogg’s line breaking ability saw him fly past several West Preston-Lakeside defenders, with him handballing to Barden who found himself all alone in the goal square to get their side’s second goal.
The margin reduced to 12 points and Craig Hayes’ side kept going, as Shane Doherty was awarded a free kick which he converted, before kicking a second goal just 30 seconds later to make it four straight majors for the visitors.
Macleod had the lead for the first time since the opening few minutes of game, but it was short-lived and would eventually be the last time they held an advantage for the remainder of the match.
A costly turnover in the middle of the ground saw Colosimo run onto a loose ball and finish from inside the centre square, handing the Roosters some much needed momentum.
The hosts would produce the next four scores, but they were all behinds, before a late Corelli major put the Roos back to within a goal by half time.
The third quarter belonged to Roosters’ duo Lachie James and Jake Pulice.
James kicked both of his goals for the afternoon in the term, paving the path for the home side to grab control of the match, while Pulice found plenty of the ball and disposed of it efficiently, passing off several chances at goal to teammates in a better position.
It was the ever-reliable Darcy Barden who gave Macleod some fight, stopping West Preston-Lakeside’s run of four consecutive goals and keeping the deficit to under four goals at three quarter time.
The visitors drew first blood in the last quarter, with a clever handball from Kobe Brandt in the pocket making its way through traffic and finding Mitchell Rust just outside the goal square who slotted it through.
But any chance of a Roos comeback was quickly put to bed, as Colosimo stood up when it mattered most in the last quarter, kicking a miraculous snap in the pocket under severe pressure.
He would produce another moment of magic minutes later, lunging forward and taking a diving mark in the same pocket before kicking truly from the set shot to complete his bag of five.
Liam Hagen would kick the sealer halfway through the final term, nailing the running goal from outside 50. Both sides traded majors, but it was West Preston-Lakeside who ended the match 38-point winners.
