Officer finally capitalised on a strong patch of form by producing an Outer East Premier Division stunner as the Kangaroos knocked off third-placed Woori Yallock in round 12.
At Rob Porter Reserve, the Tigers forced turnovers and turned it into scoring, leading 3.1(19) to 3.4(22) at quarter time.
In the second period, Officer caught fire and transitioned the ball efficiently, booting four goals to none to swing in front and lead 7.3(45) to 3.6(24) at the main intermission.
Woori Yallock had a clear response after halftime, with Taylor Gibson and Alex Marsh each slotting two majors in the third to cut the margin right back to a 9.7(61) to 8.10(58) buffer for the Kangaroos at the final change.
In what was an impressive display to that point, the hosts seemed destined to be overran in the fourth as injuries to key personnel Ash Allen, Sam Hoghton and Kyle Hagger throughout the game limited them to one on the bench.
However, it was quite the opposite.
Officer tore the game apart by booting six goals in the final term, including three from gun key forward Mark Seedsman, to run away 15.9(99) to 11.14(80) winners.
“It was great, it was just a four quarter effort,” Kangaroos senior playing coach Nathan Allen said.
“We’ve been in games but haven’t quite finished it off but on the weekend we were able to put a full four quarters together and hit the scoreboard as well so it was really nice.
“They showed how much they wanted it and how much they’ve learnt from the past few games.
“They just tried their guts out and it fell their way in the last and we hit the scoreboard and then momentum and energy just kept lifting and lifting and we were able to sustain it.”
Seedsman finished with a bag of five majors and was monumental in the forward line.
Other leaders like skipper Brent Moloney and Antonio Quach were influential, as Moloney booted three goals and Quach recorded 25 disposals, 11 tackles and a goal.
“Seedo, things weren’t quite going his way in the first quarter but his voice and his effort were still there and he was at least directing the kids,” Allen said of his key forward.
“Sometimes when things aren’t going your way you drop your head and you just worry about yourself but that’s what’s changed in these guys, they know they have to step up, they stay engaged in the game and things inevitably turn their way.
“It was the way we controlled the speed of the game that impressed me.
“In other weeks, if another side pressures us, especially if they use a full-ground press, we rush our kicks and turn the ball over in the opposition’s front half, but on the weekend, if it was on we took it and we were out but if it wasn’t, we didn’t force anything.
“We took our time, we found an easy option or we were able to kick it down the line to Gainsy, Seedo or Moloney and reset.
“The control side of our game went to another level, and I think that’s what won us the game.”
