FORMER Minyip-Murtoa footballer Lachlan Delahunty was part of a historic first win for the West Australia Football League against the Victorian Football League on Saturday.
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An emphatic 20.14 (134) to 10.11 (71) victory was the first by a senior WA representative football team against a Victorian team in Melbourne.
Delahunty said after a huge build up during the week it was great to get the win.
“The players and the league really bought into wanting to win,” he said.
The WAFL side trailed by two-points at quarter time before running away with the game by comfortably winning the last three quarters.
Playing in the ruck Delahunty had 22 hitouts and 10 disposals.
He said the time the group spent together before the game really helped.
“We came across on Thursday and spent a full 36-hours together before we played,” he said. “I’d now consider myself best mates with blokes I didn’t know before or I’d probably tried to whack on field at some point. The tackling and the intensity was really up across the board, it was a complete unselfish display of football.”
It was Delahunty’s second time representing the league after making the move to play for Subiaco in 2014.
Two seasons ago he was part of the side that tasted victory against the South Australia National Football League but it was his first time playing Victoria. He said he has enjoyed his time in WA after previously playing for the Bendigo Bombers and Frankston in the VFL.
“The league itself has more of a club atmosphere compared to the VFL,” he said. “And Subiaco has such a proud history. I don’t think I’ve been at a such a proud footy club.”
He was part of the club’s premiership sides in 2014 and 2015 but fell short against a Peel Thunder team stocked with Fremantle AFL players in last season’s decider.
“I’ve been very lucky with my timing,” he said.
His immediate plans are to remain playing in Western Australia but with close family connections he continues to keep an eye on Minyip-Murtoa’s progress. “At some stage I will have to get back to wear the Burras’ colours again,” he said.