Three last quarter goals to Anthony Rocca paved the way for the Roosters to win 18.12 (120) to 13.14 (92) despite trailing at the three-quarter time break.
Rocca, Simon Close and Damien Smith proved to be the tall targets required, booting eight goals between them and were ably assisted up the ground by captain Jake Williams, the Micevski brothers and Andrew Luzza.
For the home team, Brendan O’Sullivan worked tirelessly across the midfield, while Andrew Hughes and Paul Currie (four goals) provided targets in the forward half.
Eltham, who swapped its traditional black and red jumper for a pink one in support of Breast Cancer Network Australia, had been hit by injuries following its clash with Bundoora a fortnight ago.
Despite six changes to its side, which included key figures such as Jackson Weatherald and Ryan Hocking, the Panthers had the entire ascendency during the first term.Following the opening goal to West Preston-Lakeside’s Adam McKenzie, the home team had all the play in their front half but struggled to get majors on the board, booting behinds with its first six scoring shots.
It wasn’t until halfway through the term when Brendan Ryan, and then O’Sullivan both snapped truly within a minute of each other that saw the Pink Panthers get up and about.
These goals were followed by back to back goals to Currie – one from a mark and set shot, the second via a free kick in a marking contest – and two further goals to Mark Keenan and Billy Glasgow and saw the youngsters lead the 2010 premier by 29 points at the first change.
After Keenan grabbed a bouncing ball and turned and snapped truly from 10m, the lead had extended to 36 points early in the second quarter.
But from there the momentum changed almost immediately. During the final 20 minutes of the half the visitors slotted six goals to one, with Smith booting two and Glenn Robertson proving extremely lively at ground level.
Robertson scored a behind after the siren to put the visitor one point up at the major break as the young Panther legs were starting to get weary.
Smith booted his third for the afternoon a minute into the second half with a strong contested mark only 15m out to extend the lead to seven points, but then Eltham managed to claw back some momentum.
Sean Brazzale accepted a Lachie Richardson handball and booted a goal on the run from 50m, and then Currie booted his third after marking a Chris Varsamakis pass and kicking truly from 50m.
James McInerney goaled for the visitors just before time on, to see the margin only three points for Eltham before Currie and Billy Micevski shared goals for both teams. At the final change, Eltham was sitting with a four-point lead.
The lead didn’t last long however as Close marked on the lead and calmly took back the lead from the opening bounce of the final term, and this was followed by Rocca, who was starting to gain some control over Kris Pendlebury, grabbing a big contested mark at the trestle bridge end and booting truly from 35m.
Gavan Connelly replied to Rocca’s goal four minutes later after he claimed a mark from Chris Barry’s pass, however Rocca’s immediate response put an end to the mini run the Panthers were making.
Further goals to McKenzie, Rocca, Robertson and Smith saw the visitors confirm their position in the top five and run out victorious by 28 points.
With two losses on the trot, Eltham now faces a tough challenge as it heads to Warringal Park to face Heidelberg, while the Roosters, head back to J.E. Moore Park to face first-placed Bundoora, as they look to consolidate their spot in the five.
Final score: Eltham 13.14 (92) def by West Preston-Lakeside 18.12 (120)
