ALBANVALE has struck the first blow of the Western Region Football League division 2 finals.

The Cobras ran Parkside Magpies off their feet to run out 20-point winners in the qualifying final at a wind-swept JK Grant Reserve in Altona on Saturday.

The selection committee made six changes to the Cobras' line-up and it worked a treat.

They controlled the game from start to finish to book a date with minor premiers North Footscray in the second semi-final this weekend.

"We had a bit of a change of game plan on a bigger ground," Cobras coach David Connell said.

"We tried to bring a bit more run into the team.

"They were really good, everyone played their part and it was a good team effort."

The Cobras were a tad wasteful running with a breeze at their backs.

They managed to accumulate 10 scoring shots for only three goals.

The second term was where the game was won in the eyes of Connell.

The Cobras refused to take the foot off the pedal against the howling wind.

They managed to boot two goals - something the Magpies failed to do in the opening term.

"Our strength is our run," Connell said.

"We backed ourselves to attack them when we were kicking into the wind.

"That was probably where the game was won."

The Cobras kicked out to a 39-point lead at three-quarter-time.

The move of Jamie Sirianni from defence to attack paid dividends.

The swingman booted four goals in a best-on-ground effort.

The Cobras midfield trio of Glenn Downs, Ibrahim Atik and David Cavanagh were brilliant in the absence of injured star Shane Barry.

Connell lauded the outstanding four-quarter performance of his charges.

"It was very pleasing," he said.

"It was probably the most disciplined the team has been all year and the two years that I played here as well."

The Cobras enlisted Oak Park's back-to-back premiership-winning coach Glenn Dawson to speak to the players during the week.

He told them the ins and outs of what it takes to be successful at the business end of a campaign.

"He had a chat to the group about what it takes to win a premiership and the mental toughness you need and about being one unit," Connell said.

"This is the tightest I've been involved in with footy and they would die for each other. You need that if you're going to go all the way."

Meanwhile, Deer Park was playing for its finals survival against Yarraville-Seddon in the elimination final.

A final score was unavailable when The Advocate went to press.

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