GLENORDEN had a chance to lock the door to the Western Region Football League division 2 finals on Saturday, but lost the key.
In a mad scramble last quarter, they lost their way after leading at three-quarter-time and settled for a draw in a cliffhanger with sixth-placed Albanvale at Robert Bruce Reserve.
Sharing points was not the end of the world for the Hawks, who remain in the top five, but coach Nick Diker told the Weekly it was inviting danger by not hammering the final nail in the Cobras’ coffin.
“I was shattered an hour after the game when I was looking at the ladder. It was a real hard one to take.
“We’re still not out of the woods.”
The Hawks had to make do with a skeleton team of its best 21.
Injury woes that dampened the first half of the season have returned.
They made eight changes to the line-up from a week earlier, six of those were players aged 18 or under. Four were playing their first senior game.
Just when they thought the injury toll was at its worst, debutant ruckman Nathan Halapio runs on, wins a tap out, lays a tackle and a bump before retreating to the bench with an ankle injury.
He would not take any further part in the game.
Diker simply cannot take a trick in his first season at the helm.
He was “proud” of the efforts of his players who refused to use the build up in the medical rooms as an excuse.
“It was a real heart and soul effort,” he said.
“It’s hard for a team to turn up and play knowing they have eight players out from the week before and four first games in a big game.
“I couldn’t be more proud of their endeavour and effort. The boys fought it out.”
With injuries came opportunities.
Tall forward Brent Henry made the most of his chance as the Hawks’ focal point with seven goals.
Teenage ruckman Nathan Johnson showed his smarts at the stoppages with some nifty tap work.
The running fleet of Matthew Antonello and Jesse Fortune enjoyed the hits to advantage.
Adam Pettigrove was named best for his work across half-forward and as a pinch hit ruckman.
Daniel Lee was dangerous inside 50 with four goals.
Diker says the result will further spice up the race for the top five.
“The pressure is back on us.
But our destiny is in our own hands,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wyndhamvale was found to be slightly off the pace of the top-two sides in the past fortnight, but not where it could be considered insurmountable.
The Falcons slid to fifth on the ladder after losses to Yarraville-Seddon (38 points) and Parkside (39), but data collected along the way could prove invaluable if they meet again in September.
Visit wyndhamweekly.com.au for photo galleries from Glenorden’s draw with Albanvale and Hoppers Crossing’s big win over Albion.
