Hoppers Crossing took a step in the right direction as it upset Werribee Districts in the top of the table clash in the Western Football League division 1.
The Warriors had been a bit up and down the past few weeks including having losses against Newport and Caroline Springs.
They were able to rise to the occasion on Saturday against the Tigers, to inflict the ladder leaders first loss of the season.
Warriors coach Jared Polec said the performance was closer to what they wanted to be putting out at the pointy end of the season.
“It was good to see our brand of football,” he said. “We’ve had an up and down season and some results haven’t fallen our way.
“We haven’t seen our best Hoppers yet. We want to see our brand and style come to fruition and have a solid base coming into finals.”
Polec said while the Tigers had a few players out, they were still happy with how they played.
He said the conditions weren’t as bad as they thought they would be.
The Warriors led narrowly at the first two breaks before kicking 4.8 to nothing in the third quarter to open up a 38 point lead.
They were able to extend that in the final quarter to come away with an 11.20 (86)-5.7 (37).
Polec said it was a really physical contest.
“It was a finals-like game,” he said. “We had a real crack and got our brand up and running which was good.”
Ryan and Riley Kitchen, and Harry Maguire kicked two goals each for the Warriors.
Polec said it was the first time this season he’d had trouble trying to select the side’s best.
He said a lot of their mid tier players who really stepped up like Christopher Dounas on a wing, Anarkiikonda Van Wills and Mitchell Kunigiskis.
“They all found some form and found a bit more ball which is good for the run home.”
It was all single goalkickers for the Tigers.
Daniel Schibeci, Lachlan Smith and Jack Fletcher were named the best in the loss.
The Tigers remain on top, but the gap to Hoppers Crossing and Yarraville Seddon has reduced to two games.
The Warriors face Point Cook this week, before facing three finals hopefuls in the run home.
Polec said the run home was perfect for them heading into finals.
In other matches, Point Cook won the local derby with Point Cook Centrals.
The Bulldogs controlled the match throughout on the way to an 18.11 (119)-5.5 (35) win.
Heath Schiavello and Tyler Kolyniuk were named the Bulldogs best.
