Hoppers Crossing has not exactly mastered the unique conditions at Burbank Oval, but it has certainly handled them better than its opposition in the first two weeks of the do-or-die Western Region Football League division 1 finals.
The Warriors have advanced to the preliminary final by negotiating the windswept conditions by the bay with rugged, low-scoring wins over Werribee Districts, in the elimination final, and Spotswood, in Saturday’s 40-point first semi-final win.
Warriors coach Steven Kretiuk knows the conditions made for scrappy football, but is happy to be on the winners’ list.
“Two finals in a row where it’s been howling with wind pretty much across the ground,” he said.
“The majority of the play is down the wing side, where it was blowing … even though you’re trying to orchestrate to get it up to the top side, the wind just blows the ball across the oval.
“It’s just too dangerous to square the footy up and to take risks through the corridor, because if you turn it over it goes back with interest.”
All that matters for Hoppers Crossing in September are the wins.
The Warriors’ victory over Spotswood turned into a blow-out on the scoreboard, but it was anything but for the most part.
“It was an arm wrestle,” Kretiuk said. “We certainly had our hands full for three and a bit quarters. We’re just happy we found another gear in the last quarter.”
Leading by nine points at three-quarter time, Hoppers Crossing turned it up a notch with eight goals to three in the last term, eliminating the second-placed Woodsmen.
The Warriors made some key moves in the last quarter that got the game on their terms.
Jackson Viola, who predominantly plays as a key defender, swung forward to be a marking target and booted two goals.
Reece Miles moved from the midfield to half-forward and capably filled an area of need, Ashlin Brown pinch-hit in the midfield and Braden Ferrari and Daniel Riosa were moved into defence to good effect.
Ryan Kitchen was a standout for Hoppers Crossing in defence, while Brad Olsson sparked the team from the wing. Livewire Jordan Mead was the Warriors only other multiple goalkicker with two.
The win sets up a toss-of-the-coin clash between Hoppers Crossing and Sunshine Kangaroos at Burbank Oval on Saturday for the right to face four-peat premier Deer Park in the grand final, to be played at the Whitten Oval on September 16.
Sunshine and Hoppers Crossing had 13-5 records in the home-and-away rounds and they split their two head-to-head meetings with a win apiece.
Kretiuk is aware of the threat that Sunshine poses.
“Sunshine’s a quality side, they’ve got some really dangerous players and are really even across the board,” he said. “It’s one of those games where you need to make sure you have your 22 contributors.”
