Steven Kretiuk had not endured a rougher preparation for a new season in his five years as coach of Hoppers Crossing.
A tough summer is what made Saturday’s gutsy three-point win over St Albans in the Western Region Football League division 1 opener at Kings Park Reserve one of his sweetest victories in the Warriors coaches box.
The Warriors were already significantly weakened with a number of off season departures.
Then came a succession of injuries to key players, including season-ending knee injuries to Daniel Riosa and Jordan Moody, a career-ending shoulder injury to Matthew Smith and long-term ankle injury to Ben Jago.
With a depletion in the ranks, not many expected Hoppers Crossing to travel to
St Albans and return with a win, but they somehow found a way.
“There’s been a lot happen over the last six months, so to get a win like that was great for everyone,” Kretiuk said.
“It was probably one of the best wins that I’ve been involved with as a coach.”
Hoppers Crossing was hungry with players wanting to prove themselves.
The Warriors quickly opened up a 16-point lead at quarter-time and it was clear they meant business. The lead extended to 22 by half-time, but it could well have been more had it not been for their wayward kicking for goal.
St Albans mounted a comeback in the third term. The Saints piled on five goals to one, which even had Kretiuk wondering if his team’s spirit had been crushed.
They arrested a four-point three quarter-time deficit and willed themselves to victory with sheer endeavour.
“Midway through the third, they sort of got on top and really took control of the game,” Kretiuk said.
“Sometimes it might not be your day, but it was those little things in the last quarter from guys that probably didn’t have a huge impact on the game, but made important tackles or one per centers and those little things added up.”
David Barbieri, Braden Ferrari and Mathew Ryan were huge for Hoppers Crossing. In a low scoring game, Jordan Mead’s three goals were significant.
Elsewhere in division 1, Werribee Districts out-gunned Sunshine Kangaroos six goals to one in the final quarter to win by 31 points at Kinder Smith Reserve. Andrew Panayi kicked four goals.
Wyndhamvale could only manage four goals in a 77-point loss to Spotswood away at McLean Reserve.
In division 2, Point Cook had a 25-point win over Manor Lakes at Saltwater Reserve in its first game since crossing from the Victorian Amateur Football Association.
In division 3, Wyndham Suns prevailed in the local derby over Tarneit in a 25-point win at Goddard Street Reserve, while Point Cook Centrals started strongly with a 27-point win over a Glen Orden side in its first game since 2016.
