HOPPERS Crossing led last year’s Western Region Football League division 1 premiers Altona Vikings from almost start to finish – but not for the two minutes that counted the most.
The Warriors appeared set for a boilover win but surrendered the lead for the first time deep into time-on of the last quarter of Saturday’s 10-point loss at Grant Reserve. The Warriors were held scoreless in the last term, while the Vikings booted 4.6 to erase a 20-point three-quarter time deficit.
It was a hard loss for the Warriors, their bid for a big scalp scuppered and their finals hopes left in tatters.
“It’s probably the most demoralising loss I’ve ever had at Hoppers,” Warriors captain Brad Murphy said.
“After the start to the year we’ve had and after everything that’s happened, all the injuries we had… if we’d pulled that win off, it would’ve been one of the great wins of all time for the club.
“To lose it with two minutes left… they hit the lead for the first time in the game, it’s shattering.”
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The Warriors left the hosts shellshocked at quarter time with a fast start to lead by 23.
They stood firm against the breeze in the second quarter and extended the margin to 27 by the main break.
Roaming tall Luke Wilson continued his red-hot form, while Jarryd Ramsay and debutant Dillon Viojo were nigh-on-impossible to stop.
Terry Knight (three goals) and Michael Licciardo (two) gave the Vikings’ defence a few headaches.
The Warriors’ dominance continued in the third quarter, but so did their errant kicking for goal.
They returned a woeful 1.5 for the term, keeping the Vikings’ hopes alive.
“I remember vividly, me and Aaron Ramsay on the ground having a chat halfway through the third quarter when someone was lining up for a goal and missed it… we both said these misses are going to cost us and in the end they did,” Murphy said.
“We kicked five points in a row in the third quarter with the wind, and they were crucial misses. If we’d kicked one or two of those, we would’ve won the game.”
The loss leaves the Warriors a game and percentage out of the top five and with fifth-placed St Albans facing the bottom two sides in the last three rounds, finals would seem to be a forlorn hope.
The Warriors can extend their “mathematical chance” another week when they entertain second-last Albion at Hogans Road Oval on Saturday.
