Hoppers Crossing’s ascent in the pecking order of Western Region Football League’s division 1 can be traced back to selection decisions a year ago.
The Warriors bit the bullet and blooded a host of youngsters, who are now forming a significant part of this season’s senior line-up.
“We were forced to play those kids last year, but you can see the result of that now,” Warriors coach Steven Kretiuk told Star Weekly.
“All those young guys have a good 12 months of senior footy under their belt and we’re reaping the dividends.”
The Warriors, sitting comfortably in second spot after Saturday’s 62-point win over Albion at Parsons Reserve, have a finals double chance in sight.
The Warriors had to dig deep to overcome a plucky Albion in a game they might have lost this time last year.
The deep playing list came in handy as the Warriors started the game without key onballers Brent Sheean and David Brierty, who were injured, and they finished the game with 17 men after a spate of in-game injuries.
“It was a tough day; they were pretty hard to crack,” Kretiuk said. “They played with a fair bit of passion and intensity around the ball, and we just didn’t hit our straps until about halfway through the second quarter.
“I think quite a few guys stood up and led the way when we were a few players down, to allow us to grind out a win.”
David Barbieri embodied the spirit the Warriors needed to win a scrappy game. The wing-half back was the one player his side could depend on from start to finish. “It was just his intensity around the footy, his second and third efforts, his work rate and his defensive pressure,” Kretiuk said.
“He was the one who really gave us a four-quarter effort.”
Jordan Mead played his best game of the year in the opinion of his coach. The competition’s leading goalkicker with 37 in 11 games, Mead booted 5.4 from the wing.
“Sometimes he finds it hard to get a bit of space, but he certainly worked a lot harder this week to get over the ground,” Kretiuk said.
Jackson Viola pinch-hit forward for the second week and finished with two goals. Daniel Riosa was effective in the ruck.
The Warriors will host Spotswood in a second-versus-third showdown on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Werribee Districts’ inconsistent run continued with a 26-point loss to Sunshine Kangaroos, a major blow for top-three aspirations as the Tigers slid two games behind third-placed Spotswood.
In division 2, top side Wyndhamvale disposed of Yarraville-Seddon by 45 points. Manor Lakes kept slim finals hopes alive with a 40-point victory over Sunshine Heights, while Glenorden’s recent form came to a halt in an 85-point loss to title-threat West Footscray.
In division 3, Wyndham Suns lost for the second week, this time by 12 points to Parkside at Henry Turner Reserve. Sanctuary Lakes blasted Braybrook by 177 points, while Tarneit prevailed by 27 points over North Sunshine.
