HOPPERS Crossing has a head start on the rest of Western Region Football League division 1.
While most of the competition were playing their first-round matches at the weekend, it was the Warriors’ second game due to their round three clash with St Albans being brought forward to Good Friday.
It means the Warriors are untouchable at the top of the ladder as the only side with two wins from two starts.
“We’re one up on most of the competition till round three,” Warriors assistant coach Glenn McGaw enthused.
It is not just the raw numbers that have the Warriors fans excited.
They have shown off their boom recruits Brodie Moles and James Mulligan with success.
Their superior fitness on the back of a player-led pre-season program has been evident in both victories over quality sides.
On Saturday, David Mitchell’s team ran away with a 41-point win over Port Melbourne Colts at Hogans Road Oval.
“We were a lot fitter than the Colts and maybe a couple of games ahead of them in matches played,” McGaw said.
“We had a few more class players out on the field.”
The Warriors wore the Colts down to finish full of run. They were dominant in the middle periods when their fitness began to take over.
After six goals to two in the second term and five goals to one in the third, there was no coming back for the Colts. McGaw credits the fitness base created by players Brydon Coles and Chris Latella, both personal trainers, for the physical supremacy.
“Those boys took control of pre-season. They put a structure in place and we really haven’t deviated from it and given them any easy nights. They’ve done a full pre-season with no let up,” McGaw said.
The Warriors made full use of Collingwood VFL-listed ruckman Scott Greenhough.
The youngster spoon fed the onballers as his side dominated the clearances 38-17 on McGaw’s count.
The major beneficiary of the silver service was Matthew Smith, who produced a best-on-ground display in the centre.
“Of the 37 clearances, he probably had half of them,” McGaw said.
“He also got a lot of ball on the outside, running the angles and finding a lot of space. His use was pretty good, too.”
Warriors captain Brad Murphy was concussed early, and Smith, Moles and Aaron Ramsay relished the added responsibility in his absence.
Mulligan showed how valuable he will be to the Warriors with the former Western Bulldog used in a variety of positions, but popping up for three goals, including a ripper from the edge of the centre square.
The Warriors’ big test will come on Saturday when they face last year’s runner-up Spotswood away at McLean Reserve.
WRFL SCORES
Division 1
Hoppers Crossing 19.12 (126) d Port Melbourne Colts 12.13 (85). Hoppers Crossing: Goals: Carey, Mulligan, Williams 3, Ramsay, Wilson, Butty, Knight 2, Smith, Kitchen. Best: El Hawli, Dorgan, Watt, Poland, Wilson, Smith.
Around the grounds: St Albans 5.9 (39) lt Deer Park 7.15 (57); Altona 15.7 (97) d Spotswood 13.16 (94); Sunshine 18.9 (117) d Albion 10.13 (73); Yarraville-Seddon 24.18 (162) d North Footscray 9.6 (60).
Next round: Albion v Altona, Deer Park v Yarraville-Seddon, North Footscray v Sunshine, Port Melbourne Colts v St Albans, Spotswood v Hoppers Crossing.
