IT was almost as if lightning struck twice for Hoppers Crossing in the Western Region Football League division 1.
The Warriors had been there before, taking on Albion at Hogans Road in a milestone game for one of their favourite sons.
Almost two years to the day, Jake Mutton, captain at the time, celebrated his 300th game.
For the players who remain at the club today, losing on that occasion is still hard to stomach.
“That was brought up during the week,” Warriors captain Brad Murphy told the Weekly. “We made a pact, we don’t want to lose milestone games.”
Matthew Ryan is another player held in “very high regard”. Ryan, a local who started with the Warriors in the under-9s, kitted up for his 300th game.
This time around, the Warriors gave their man a fitting result with a crushing 79-point win.
“He’s an out-and-out superstar of this club,” Murphy said. “He won our best and fairest last year. He’s also one of the best guys at the footy club.
“It was good to get the win for him and it’s an honour for me to be able to play in the game.”
It was an emotional week for the Warriors, with injured youngster Jackson Viola making it down to the ground to support his teammates in a wheelchair. Last week, Viola fractured his leg below the knee and tore his anterior cruciate ligament, leaving him in a plaster cast for six months before an operation that will see him miss two years of footy.
“It was very inspiring to see Jackson get wheeled into the club,” Murphy said. “Pretty emotional having him there. He loves his footy and loves the Hoppers Crossing footy club.
But Murphy has backed the talented teenager to make a comeback, saying he could
recapture the kind of form expected of him. He is hopeful that Viola will be in contention for a spot on the Western Jets’ list if the rehabilitation process runs smoothly. “Hopefully, that’s the last of his injuries,” Murphy said. “He will be a gun footballer. With the 19-year-old rule in the TAC Cup, hopefully he will get back and have another shot.”
The Warriors got the job done for Ryan and Viola. They went in quickly for the kill and were never challenged.
Brent Sheean, Aaron Ramsay and Ryan Kitchen were all dominant, while Jarryd Ramsay zeroed in on the goals, finishing the day with four majors.
The Warriors will be looking for a big percentage boost when they play Sunshine Heights on Saturday.
