Tara Murray
Hoppers Crossing is daring to dream after winning through to the Western Football League division 1 grand final.
This time last year the Warriors finished last and won the wooden spoon with just two wins for the season.
Now, they are preparing for a grand final against local rival Werribee Districts.
Warriors president John Semertzidis said it was an awesome win.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “It’s like keep rolling on, one more week.
“We’re the form team of the finals by the mile. Definitely a lot of belief there that we deserve to be there.”
On Saturday, the Warriors were able to account for Caroline Springs in the preliminary final.
The Warriors led by four points at quarter time and by 13 points at the main break.
It was still anyone’s game heading into the final quarter with the margin just 18 points.
Six goals to two in the final quarter blew the game open to give the Warriors an 11.9 (75)-4.7 (31) win.
Semertzidis said it was awesome to see his boys dominate from the first bounce.
It was trying conditions all day with rain, wind and even some hail.
“We were able to hold them at bay early in the piece,” he said. “And then we exploded when we needed to.
“One thing that has been big in the finals series has been our fitness levels being exemplary and the guys are running games well.
“Really taking advantage of teams at the moment.”
Semertzidis said the last quarter helped ease a few of the nerves of fans after the Lakers kicked the first goal of the quarter.
He said the three quarter time message was just to attack in the last quarter.
Ryan Kitchen and Harry Maguire kicked three goals each for the Warriors.
Jed Anderson, Kitchen and Chase Guy were named their best.
Semertzidis said Anderson brings that level of professionalism to the side and he does a lot of things clean.
He said it was a really good team performance.
“Our good players stood up again and all our players rallied around them,” he said. “We had a really good crack and definitely scared a couple of teams which is awesome.”
The win sets up a grand final with Werribee Districts this Saturday at Avalon Airport Oval.
Semertzidis said they were definitely looking forward to it.
“They’ve beaten us twice this year but to be fair, we are definitely looking and excited for the challenge.
“Definitely wanting to prove them wrong. There’s no expectation on our team, we go in as the underdogs and that is fine and we prefer that.”
In the division 2 grand final, Sunshine was too good for Albion, winning 8.8 (56)-6.13 (49).
