Tara Murray
Hoppers Crossing’s next generation will shoulder more of the load in the Western Region Football League division 1.
With a new coach and some changes to the playing squad, it will be a different Warriors side this season.
Coach Adam Contessa said the season can’t come soon enough. The Warriors start their season on Good Friday against Point Cook.
“Obviously we’ve had a fair bit of change in the off season with coach and personnel,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to getting into the real stuff.”
Contessa said they would look very different this year. Jack Dorgan has departed, while they are unsure how much they will see Joshua Pickess who in on a Victorian Football League list.
Harley Armstrong-Weston will be out for a big chunk of the season.
Contessa said they see this an opportunity.
“It’s an opportunity for some of the youth to get more opportunity to stake their claim,” he said.
“We have a good young group and we want to get them to the level of senior football as soon as possible.
“Many of them have played senior football. Guys who are in the 21-year-old age bracket like Riley Fisher, Chase Guy and Callum Buckingham
“Then there’s opportunity for some of those guys that have had a small taste of senior footy like Oliver Correia who is young ruck.”
Contessa said several young guys had been playing in the practice matches and it was up to them to push their way into the senior team.
Contessa said they were still keen to add a few more players to the side and were talking to couple of players who could be returning from playing in Darwin.
“We’re always still trying,” he said. “It’s silly season for a reason. There’s still plenty of conversations and meetings, but there are so many different options these days.”
Contessa said coming into that he had no expectations. Last season the Warriors finished fifth.
“There’s the change of the competition and it will be interesting with Deer Park and St Albans out and a final four,’ he said.
“We’re aiming to play finals that the first goal.”
The Warriors will host the Bulldogs on Good Friday with the seniors starting at 2.15pm/
Contessa said it would be a good challenge for the side.
”We really don’t know how they will look until the season starts properly,” he said.
“Point Cook has secured some names into the group. How they fair is an unknown. They could be one of the big improvers.”
