Coaches in modern day football like players who can slot into multiple positions on the ground.
Not only does it make a team line-up unpredictable for the opposition, but it allows a coach the chance to move the magnets around if things are not going as planned.
Hoppers Crossing coach Steven Kretiuk admits some of his players are stuck in the traditional way of thinking that one position fits best, but he is continually preaching the virtues of flexibility within the line-up.
“Players have to understand that we’re going to throw them around to make sure we get a good mix and get other players into the game, and maybe try to change the course of a game,” Kretiuk said.
“I think we’ve had a few players get frustrated with the fact that we have got a number of midfielders that can roll through there.
“Gone are the days where you have your four midfielders and that’s it.
“It’s what we need to do to continue to grow as a side, have a bit of flexibility and sometimes you need to have a few more strings to the bow than just playing inside or outside mid.”
Hoppers Crossing captain Mathew Ryan showed how well he’s adapted to a multi-position role in Saturday’s 144-point win over Caroline Springs at Hogans Road Reserve.
Ryan started the game in defence, but with the Warriors up by just 25 points at half-time and needing a spark, he moved into the midfield and had an major impact in the second half.
“We were trying to get a bit more experience into our backline and trialled him there all preseason, but what we have done a couple of times is, when we haven’t been too clean or our clearances haven’t been as good as they should be, we’ve chucked him into the midfield and he’s turned the game,” Kretiuk said.
“After half-time, we threw him in the middle and he made a massive difference for us.”
It was a number of half-time moves that changed the course of the game for Hoppers Crossing. While the final margin was large, getting there was a harder than it seemed.
“It wasn’t comfortable,” Kretiuk said.
“They [Caroline Springs] were outstanding, I thought, with their pressure around the ball and getting numbers back to support their defenders and just really clogged out our forward line.
“I wasn’t too happy at half-time.
“I had a few words to a few players about their contribution.”
The game changer for Hoppers Crossing was plugging Jordan Cook into centre half back and moving Braden Ferrari to the forward line.
Cook was superb in detonating any of the opposition attacking moves, while Ferrari was the target the Warriors had been crying out for.
The floodgates opened in the second half with Hoppers Crossing piling on 21 goals to two. Jordan Mead snared five goals, while Daniel Strnak chimed in with four.
It turned into a nice percentage booster for the third-placed Warriors, who played without Barry Priest Medal-winning ruckman Wayde Skipper.
With games against top-four sides Sunshine Kangaroos, Deer Park and Spotswood in the next three weeks, Hoppers Crossing will need to produce more complete performances.
“It’s a big three weeks ahead and we certainly have to improve a fair bit if we’re going to challenge these sides,” Kretiuk said.
Elsewhere in division 1, Werribee Districts three-game win streak came to an end, going down to Altona by 59 points at Grant Reserve.
Wyndhamvale was no match for four-peat premiers Deer Park, losing by 89 points at Wyndhamvale Reserve.
In division 2, Manor Lakes got blown away in the last quarter to lose by 66 points against North Footscray at Hansen Reserve.
In division 3, Tarneit mauled Braybrook by 98 points at Wootten Road Reserve, but Wyndham Suns lost a close one by 19 points to Parkside and Sanctuary Lakes shot themselves in the foot with errant kicking in a 30-point loss to Sunshine Heights.
