Hoppers Crossing’s adherence to coach Steven Kretiuk’s call for more of the “little things” was the foundation to Saturday’s hard-fought, eight-point win over rivals Werribee Districts in the qualifying final at Avalon Airport Oval.
The barometer of the Warriors is the amount of one-percenters – acts that are not usually quantified on a stats sheet or found on the goalkickers’ list – they produce weekly.
These were delivered in spades in the first week of finals.
One act by Ryan Kitchen stuck out in Kretiuk’s mind, epitomising the Warriors’ attitude on the day.
Kitchen sacrificed his own chance of easy possession further upfield to deny Werribee Districts a scoring chance, sprinting 80 metres, from the forward line to defence, to pick up unmarked Tigers’ ruckman Bol Kolang.
“He had snuck out the back, and Ryan ran from our forward line to their forward line to halve the contest – and saved a certain goal,” Kretiuk said.
“Those things are the telling factors in us winning the game.
“If we get the little things right like that, they all add up to one big thing.”
It was a significant day for the psyche of Hoppers Crossing players.
From three previous finals games against Werribee Districts since they re-entered the competition in 2014, the Warriors held an ugly 0-3 record.
It was beginning to look as though the Warriors were just never going to beat their crosstown foes when it mattered.
But this was their day. And the monkey is off the back now. Should they meet again in the finals, it will no longer be a mental drain on Hoppers Crossing.
“To finally get a win against them was really pleasing because sometimes you start to have some doubts about whether you’re up to some of the other teams in the competition, but we proved that we are,” Kretiuk said.
“Over the last three years, they have been the second best side in the competition come finals, and they’ve proven that, so for us to get a win over them is a great result for us.”
Ruckman Wayde Skipper had a monumental impact for Hoppers Crossing.
The reigning Priest Medallist, awarded the division 1 best-and-fairest, is back to full fitness and in peak form.
Skipper had endured a slow start to the season due to a nagging shoulder injury, but is back to his old self now.
“He’s been outstanding for the past six weeks,” Kretiuk said.
“He had a pretty bad shoulder injury, and battled through some tough games earlier on, when he couldn’t lift his arm.
“He was probably the difference in the midfield. He played 100 per cent of the game and didn’t come off at all.”
Matthew Turner was dangerous in front of goal for Hoppers Crossing, with four majors.
Daniel Riosa, Braden Ferrari and Jackson Viola were tight in defence, holding the Tigers to just 15 scoring shots, while youngsters Mohamed Dibb (two goals), James Grubb and Nick Weir were not overawed by the occasion.
Werribee Districts hung on, but the better side on the day got the spoils.
Chris Scudamore capped a standout performance f
or the Tigers with two goals, while Andrew Panayi kicked three and Rhyce Prismall was impressive.
Werribee Districts will reload for a tricky cut-throat semi-final against Altona at Burbank Oval on Sunday, while Hoppers Crossing will be hoping to keep their momentum going when they face Deer Park at Avalon Airport Oval for the right to advance directly to this season’s grand final.
