Werribee Districts’ return to the Western Region Football League started on a positive note with the defeat of Hoppers Crossing in division 1 on Saturday at Soldiers Reserve.
In their first game back in the WRFL after playing in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, the Tigers were in control from the start, eventually winning 14.23 (107) to 11.10 (76).
PICTURE GALLERY: Werribee Districts v Hoppers Crossing
Coach Wade Chapman said his side was eager to get on the park.
“We had a hard preseason’s training, three times a week until March and then four competitive practice matches,” he said. “We thought we were ready.”
He said his side’s inaccurate goal-kicking allowed the Warriors to stay in the game.
“We could have had three to four easy goals and been six to seven goals up at quarter-time,” he said. “We kept them in the game with our goal-kicking, but I was pleased in the last quarter how we reacted.”
Chapman said Brent Morrow and Tate McCutcheon were four-quarter contributors.
New Warriors coach Steve Kretiuk said his side played well for patches.
“I thought we tried hard and the attack on the footy was good for half a game,” he said.
“After the first quarter, we come back a bit before falling away in the last quarter. We went away from attacking the ball and our stoppage work.”
Kretiuk said most of the club’s players were under 22, meaning there would be periods of inconsistency.
“We pretty much turned the club inside
out in a positive way over the preseason,” he said. “It’s about getting game time into to them.
“Many of the boys played in successful teams at junior level so they haven’t had to defend as much. We need to teach them how to defend for the next 12 months.”
Kretiuk said captain Matthew Ryan led from the front and 17-year-old Jordan Taylor continued his impressive preseason form.
This weekend, the Tigers play reigning premier Deer Park, while the Warriors play Sunshine.
