Hoppers Crossing has produced one of its most complete performances of the Western Region Football League division 1 season to dispose of Sunshine Kangaroos on their home track at Kinder Smith Reserve on Saturday.
The Warriors had a 15-minute lapse in the third term, but it was plain sailing thereafter en route to a comfortable 52-point win.
The fifth-placed Warriors opened up a two-game and percentage gap over the sides sitting outside the top five.
“[Sunshine] is a dangerous side so we’re really happy to come away with the win, especially at their home ground where they’re really hard to beat,” Warriors coach Steve Kretiuk said.
“We sort of had a lapse in concentration [in the third term] but we pretty much controlled the game from the outset.
“It was an eight-point game for us because they were sitting behind us and if they’d won they could’ve gone on top of us.”
The Warriors ran rampant in the first half, booting seven goals to one and taking a 41-point lead into half-time.
The Roos went on a run of their own to trim the margin to 30 at the last change, but the Warriors restored order with five goals to one in the fourth.
Youngster Nick Jones impressed in the midfield for the Warriors and showed why some VFL clubs will be keeping close tabs on his progress.
A smart player with neat skills, Jones has the potential to take a step up in class if he’s willing to put the work in.
“He did a pre-season at Werribee, but probably lacked a bit of fitness so it’s something we need to work on because he’s certainly capable with his skills and game sense to play at a higher level,” Kretiuk said.
“He was outstanding today. He worked really hard around the ground and his cleanliness around the footy was really good.
“He really stood out today in the trying conditions.”
The Warriors got good shifts out of their tall timber in first choice ruckman Wayde Skipper and three-goal ruckman-forward Trent Rutherford.
Skipper has been one of the recruits of the year in the WRFL, not only because of his ruckwork but his ability to follow up at ground level.
“If you want to get anyone into your side out of the whole WRFL, you want to get ‘Skip’,” Kretiuk said.
“His ruckwork, firstly, is second to none, but after he does his ruckwork, he plays as another midfielder.
“He’s got an enormous tank and can out-run pretty much every ruckman in the competition with his workrate.
“He’s a real key to us.”
Ryan Kitchen snared three goals for the Warriors, while there were two each for Jones, Kyle Traynor and Matthew Poland.
The Warriors can further consolidate their top-five spot when they host a struggling Port Melbourne Colts at Hogans Road on Saturday.
